Agronomic Performance of F₁ Hybrids of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Japonica-Indica Crosses : Heterosis for and relationship between grain yield and related characters

Abstract

Generally F₁ hybrids from crosses between japonica and indica rice show variable degrees of sterility. Previous studies revealed that among the indica rice, the Aus type has sexual affinity with japonica cultivars giving higher fertility in F₁ hybrids. Therefore, we made an effort to obtain higher grain yield by producing F₁ hybrids between japonica and Aus-type indica. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the heterosis in these F₁ hybrids for dry matter accumulation, spikelet fertility, yield and yield attributes, to find cross combinations with higher grain yield, and examined the relationships of grain yield with some agronomic characters. F₁ hybrids flowered earlier than their parent cultivars. Heterosis for dry matter accumulation was positive at the panicle initiation stage, at heading and at maturity. The average heterosis for number of panicles, grain and straw yield per plant, number of spikelets per panicle and 1000-grain weight was positive. A few F₁ hybrids showed positive heterosis for number of filled grains per panicle, spikelet fertility and harvest index; but the average heterosis for these traits was negative. Among the yield components, a higher number of panicles per plant and higher number of spikelet per panicle contributed to higher grain yield in F₁ hybrids. A significant and positive relationship existed between spikelet fertility and grain yield per plant. The higher grain yield was attributed to higher dry matter production rather than higher harvest index in F₁ hybrids, although low spikelet fertility limited yield potential in some F₁ hybrids.