On heterosis, inbreeding depression and general combining ability in annual caraway (Carum carvi)

Abstract Caraway ( Carum carvi ) is a medicinal and aromatic plant of the Apiaceae family with long history cultivation. To this day, improvements in yield essential oil content are desirable. In past, line breeding was used to increase final intention combining inbred lines synthetic variety by outcrossing. Outcrossing should overcome inbreeding depression exploit heterosis vice versa. study, we wanted detect whether what extent can be exploited caraway. randomized complete block design two years growing four repetitions per year genotype, compared 18 corresponding F 1 populations produced polycross. addition yield, estimated beginning flowering, end maturity, height, thousand-grain weight, stalk attachment rate, shattering rate content. Linear mixed models were compute variance components, heritability best linear unbiased estimates. As major result, detected existence better parent summarize, outcrossing led significant weight height an earlier flowering maturity. two-year data, no effect on observed, but single data revealed slight effects. We found strong negative correlations between developmental traits yield. Hence, selection early developing genotypes seems highly recommendable. Results make us confident that improved annual varieties introduced soon.