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Estimates of Heterosis from a Diallel Cross of Inbred Lines of Castors, Ricinus communis L.¹

Seven lines of castors, Ricinus communis L., were combined in a diallel cross series to obtain information on the magnitude of genetic variance and heterosis expressed in the F₁'s. Significant line effects (general combining ability) and heterosis (specific combining ability) were both important for days to flowering, racemes per plant, volume weight, and oil content. Heterosis was the only significant effect for seed yield.

Significant differences between reciprocal crosses were observed for days to flowering, nodes to first and second racemes, racemes per plant, volume weight, and oil percentage. In future studies involving crosses among these lines the occurrence of reciprocal differences should be assumed and studies should be designed to account for this source of variation.

Seed yield and oil content were negatively correlated with days to flowering and with number of nodes to first and second racemes and positively correlated with number of racemes per plant and volume weight of seed. Yield and oil content were positively correlated. All but one of the phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients were .5 or greater in absolute value.

Key Words: Combining ability • Reciprocal crosses

² Formerly fnstructor (now Plant Breeder, Del Monte Corporation, San Leandro, Calif.), Associate Professor, and Meyer Katzman Professor of Agronomy, respectively, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Received for publication February 13, 1971.