Extent of Heterosis in Single, Double and Three-way Crosses of Barley

Abstract

SIX DIVERSE STRAINS (AB-12/59; EB-1556; BG-1; A-59; K-572/10 and IB-226) were used for making all possible single, three-way and double cross hybrids. These 15 single, 60 three-way and 45 double cross hybrids along with their parents were grown in the adjacent fields having almost similar fertility levels, following randomized _ block design with four replications. Each cross was accommodated in a 3 metre-long single row plot. Seeds were sown in furrows made by a hand plough. Care was taken to sow the seeds at equal depth. Observations were recorded on 5 randomly selected plants in each of the single crosses as well as parental strains. In three-way and double cross hybrids data were recorded on 15 plants.