Estimation of heterosis for yield-related traits for single cross and three-way cross hybrids of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Rapeseed breeding programs are focused mainly on improving plant potential and seed yield. One of the ways to improve seed yield in oilseed rape is heterosis, which is hybrid vigor that results in a greater biomass, increased seed yield, and faster development. The purpose of this study was to estimate yield-related trait heterosis for single cross and three-way cross hybrids of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). A population of 60 doubled-haploid (DH) lines and two generations of hybrids were evaluated in field trials to assess six yield-related traits: plant height, number of branches per plant, number of siliques per plant, silique length, number of seeds per silique, and thousand seed weight. Heterosis effects for each trait were estimated by a comparison of the particular hybrid with: (1) the trait mean over both parents-mid-parent heterosis and (2) to the value of better parent-best-parent heterosis. Traits with clear positive heterosis and traits with varied heterosis were observed in this study. For the first group, we include plant height, silique length, and the number of seeds per silique-a large number of hybrids expressed significant positive heterosis for these traits, independent from the year of observations and the type of hybrid. For the second group, with varied heterosis, we can include the number of branches and siliques per plant and thousand seed weight. For these traits, hybrids exhibited both positive and negative significant heterosis, without a clear pattern for the years and types of hybrids.