Heterosis in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Abstract

A study was conducted to estimate heterosis in F, hybrids of black pepper with respect to yield and three reproductive characters using 45 hybrids belonging to eight different intervarietaJ combinations of crosses planted at the Pepper Research Station, Panniyur. One of the hybrids, viz. Culture 4968 belonging to the cross Uthirenkotta x Balankotta was found to exhibit high heterosis with respect to all the characters. Promising parental combinations were, Uthirenkotta x Cheriyakaniakkadan and Karivilanchy x Cheriyakaniakkadan. The combinations Uthirenkotta x Kottanadan, Uthirenkotta x Kuthiravaly and Panniyur 1 x Karimunda were found least promising.