Heterosis Analysis for Yield and Resistance to Yellow Stem Borer (Scirpophaga incertulas Wlk.) in F1 Progenies Derived from Six Crosses of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Heterosis breeding has been a successful strategy for improving yield and insect pest resistance in rice. This study evaluated heterosis for yield and resistance to the yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas Wlk.) in F1 progenies from six rice crosses. Five diverse parents, including high-yielding varieties (ADT 43, ADT 45, ASD 16) as females and yellow stem borer resistant varieties (TKM 6, ASD 12) as males, were used to generate the F1 progenies. The parents and F1 progenies were screened for yellow stem borer resistance under screenhouse conditions by artificial infestation with larva reared in laboratory. Quantitative traits like plant height, total number of tillers, number of productive tillers, panicle length, thousand grain weight, grains per panicle and grain yield per plant were evaluated for yield performance. The F1 progenies from ADT 43 × TKM 6, ADT 45 × TKM 6, ASD 16 × TKM 6 and ASD 16 × ASD 12 exhibited highly resistant status, while ADT 43 × ASD 12 and ADT 45 × ASD 12 showed resistance status to yellow stem borer. Estimation of heterosis revealed significant positive mid-parent, better-parent and useful heterosis for traits like tiller number, productive tillers, panicle length, grains per panicle and grain yield per plant in most crosses. The study identified promising heterotic rice hybrids combining high yield potential and yellow stem borer resistance, which can contribute to sustainable pest management strategies. The development of resistant varieties provides an environmentally-friendly approach to pest management, reducing excessive pesticide use and enhancing rice productivity for food security.