Deciphering Heterotic Potential and Pistillate Character Expression in Castor (Ricinus communis)

Research focus on castor gained momentum as it is a resourceful and versatile industrial crop. A stable expression of pistillate character, without sex reversion, is essential for successful hybrid development. In view of this, the study unravels the heterosis and sex expression using eight hybrid combinations, their segregating and backcross populations. Phenological evaluation concluded that dominance was expressed in all the eight hybrids for 15 qualitative traits. The hybrid JP 65 x SKI 215 shows potential for commercial cultivation due to its higher yield and yield-enhancing traits based on mean and standard heterosis. The crosses YRCP 2 x DPC 9 and SKP 84 x JP 65 could be utilized for the development of pistillate line as it displayed stable pistillateness in the late order spikes. Inheritance studies using chi square (chi 2) test indicated the role of single gene and several modifying genes with epistatic effects in pistillate character expression which was evident using the F2 and backcross populations of eight crosses. These findings provide valuable insights into enhancing yield and productivity, reinforcing the potential of genetic selection for intensified yields in castor breeding.