Exploitation of heterosis in a diallel crosses of periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) for morphological traits

Despite the economic significance of periwinkle [Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don] existence genetic variation in traits have been largely unexplored and very little attempt has done to improve its genetics for ornamental prospective. An experiment was conducted at research farm Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during 2019 2021 using 6 inbred lines develop 30 F1 populations full-diallel fashion. The highly significant positive heterobeltiosis recorded progeny Vi-29 × Vi-14-3 leaf breadth, follicle length, number flowers per plant seeds follicle. cross combination Vi-13-2 significantly high height spread. minimum spread length Vi-15-1. highest mean performance parents reported Vi-15-1 spread, internode flower diameter, plant, As results among combinations superior observed plant. These findings suggest that hybridization is an efficient way contributing variability landscape utilization.