Heterosis and agronomic performance of raspberry families: Breeding raspberry

Resumen

Objective: To study the heterosis and agronomic performance of raspberry (Rubus idaeus) F₁ families derived from open-pollinated parents, and to investigate the heterotic relationships between yield and its components.

Design/methodology/approach: A total of thirty-five genotypes, including eight open-pollinated raspberry cultivars, their 28 F₁ families and one check, were evaluated for vegetative and fruit traits. The trial was carried out under a randomized block design and under open field conditions.

Results: Mid-parent heterosis (MH) ranged from -94.83 to 311.67 %, whereas the better parent heterosis (BPH) values varied from -94.26 to 235.00 %. We observed that the heterosis values for yield had a strong and positive correlation (r = 0.89) with the heterosis values for number of fruits per plant.

Limitations on study/implications: Heterosis and performance of F1 families in raspberry would depend on the pedigree of parents as their relativeness is a key factor to exploit the heterosis in plants.

Findings/conclusions: High values of heterosis were found in some raspberry crosses. Progeny derived from parents MU1 and TD865 showed considerable mid-parent heterosis (MH) and good performance for fruit size-related traits, soluble solids content and yield, evidencing that both parents may be utilized as donor parents in raspberry breeding program.