Estimation of heterosis for seed yield and its attributing traits in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Heterosis over better parent (BP) for seed yield and yield components in linseed was studied using line × tester analysis involving ten genetically diverse strains used as lines and four testers. The heterosis over better parent for seed yield plant⁻¹ ranged from 48.69 to 552.85%. Five crosses consistently exhibited significant positive heterobeltiosis for higher seed yield plant⁻¹, viz., RLC-132 × RLC-92, R-4154 × Indira Alsi-32, R-4158 × Deepika, R-4129 × Kartika and RLC-132 × Kartika indicating that these crosses might be useful in linseed hybrid production. These crosses also had significant and positive heterosis for days to 50% flowering, number of capsules plant⁻¹ and oil content and would be more desirable to exploit heterosis in linseed.