Write a note on heterosis.

Explanation

(i) Heterosis (hetero- different, sis - condition) G.H. Shull was the first scientist to use the term heterosis in 1912.
(ii) The superiority of the F1 hybrid in performance over its parents is called heterosis or hybrid vigour.
(iii) Vigour refers to increase in growth, yield, greater adaptability of resistance to diseases, pest and drought.
(iv) Vegetative propagation is the best suited measure for maintaining hybrid vigour, since the desired characters are not lost and can persist over a period of time.
Depending on the nature, origin, adaptability and reproducing ability heterosis can be classified as:
(i) Euheterosis: This is the true heterosis which is inherited and is further classified as:
(a) Mutational Euheterosis - Simplest type of euheterosis and results from the sheltering or eliminating of the deleterious, unfavourable often lethal, recessive, mutant genes by their adaptively superior dominant alleles in cross pollinated crops.
(b) Balanced Euheterosis - Well balanced gene combinations which is more adaptive to environmental conditions and agricultural usefulness. (ii) Psuedoheterosis: Also termed as luxuriance. Progeny possess superiority over parents in vegetative growth but not in yield and adaptation, usually sterile or poorly fertile.