Heterosis for Seed Yield Per Plant and Associated Traits in Pigeon Pea across Environments

Aim: To assess heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for seed yield per plant and yield-attributing traits in Pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] across diverse environments and identify promising F₁ combinations for further genetic improvement.Study Design: Twenty F₁s were developed using a Line × Tester mating design during kharif 2024 and evaluated in a multi-environment field experiment during kharif 2025.Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at Navsari, Bharuch and Achhalia, Gujarat, India, during the kharif 2025 season.Methodology: Twenty F₁s were developed by crossing five lines with four testers during 2024–25. The hybrids and nine parental genotypes, including the standard check GT-110, were evaluated at each of the three locations in a Randomised Complete Block Design with three replications. Each genotype constituted a treatment, and the experimental unit was the plot assigned to that genotype within each replication. Data were recorded for 11 quantitative traits, and heterosis was estimated over the better parent (heterobeltiosis) and the standard check (standard heterosis). Analysis of variance was performed for individual locations and pooled across locations.Results: Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among genotypes for all 11 quantitative traits at individual locations and in the pooled analysis, indicating substantial genetic variability. Heterotic responses varied among crosses and traits, with desirable negative heterosis for flowering and maturity and positive heterosis for yield-contributing traits. Particularly high heterosis was observed for pods per plant, primary and secondary branches per plant, pod length, 100-seed weight and harvest index. Conclusion: The present study revealed substantial genetic variability and considerable heterotic potential among the evaluated Pigeon pea genotypes across three environments. The identified promising cross combinations, particularly NPD-18-03-1 × GT-110, GT-102 × GT-104, NP-21-01 × GT-110, NPG-19-10 × NP-468 and BSMR 853 × GT-110, exhibited desirable heterotic performance for important yield-attributing traits.