Exploration of hybrid vigour in small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton.)

F, hybrid vigour was explored in seven hybrids and estimated the magnitude of relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis in small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton). The close relationship between per se performance and estimated heterosis was observed in hybrid MCC - 260 x MCC - 49, MCC - 260 x MCC - 6 1, MCC-49 x MCC - 260 and MCC-61 x MCC-49 with over all magnitude of heterosis to the tune of 48.24 to 193.08 percent. The characters bearing tillers per clump, panicles per clump, racemes per panicle, capsules per raceme and yield per clump showed positive and desirable heterosis in these promising crosses. The superior hybrid MCC - 260 x MCC - 49 was recorded maximum yield which was 158.47 per cent increase over the standard check variety ICRI-2 coupled with positive relative heterosis (193.08%) and hetrobeltiosis (184.42%). This hybrid showed desirable heterosis for six traits viz., bearing tillers per clump, particles per clump, racemes per particle, capsules per raceme, dry recovery and fresh yield per clump. The hybrid MCC - 260 x MCC - 61 favours for five traits like bearing tillers per clump, panicles per clump, racemes per panicle, capsules per raceme and yield. Their parents were also found good general combiners. The most of the hybrid showed hybrid vigour either in positive or negative direction indicated non-additive and pre-dominance gene effect that deviates dominance and epitasis interaction resulted hybrid vigour. The hybrid MCC - 260 x MCC - 49 was released as first hybrid in small cardamom (ICRI-5).