Yield attributing traits in parents versus hybrids in FCV tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

This research was conducted to compare the performance of parent cultivars versus hybrids in Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Seven varieties were crossed in all possible combinations at the Tobacco Research Sub Station, Mansehra during 2007 to generate a full diallel set of progeny. Forty-two F1 hybrids along with their parent cultivars were planted at the Tobacco Research Station, Mardan (plain) and the Tobacco Research Sub Station, Mansehra (hilly) during 2008 and 2009. Both experiments were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data were recorded on days to flowering, plant height, leaves per plant, internodal length, leaf area, green leaf weight, cured leaf weight, number of green leaves per kg, number of cured leaves per kg, yield, grade index (1), percent nicotine and percent reducing sugars. Analysis of variance revealed significance (P less than 0.01) among genotypes and their interactions with environments for all traits. Hybrids exhibited higher mean performance than parent cultivars in the expression of days to flowering, leaf area, number of green leaves per kg, number of cured leaves per kg and percent nicotine. Ranges in hybrids were higher than parent cultivars for days to flowering, plant height, leaves per plant, internodal length, leaf area, green leaf weight, number of green leaves per kg, percent nicotine, and percent reducing sugar which indicates hybrid vigour for all traits. Performance of F1 hybrids across environments was environment-specific. Based on mean performance, the parent cultivars Spt G 126, Spt G 28 and KHG21 had higher yield across environments. The parent cultivar Spt G 28 had the highest performance for grade index, percent nicotine and percent reducing sugars. The desirable F1 hybrids for yield were Spt G 28/Spt G 126 and Spt G 126/KHG24.