Heterosis in taramira [Eruca sativa (Mill.)] for seed yield and oil content

Abstract

Taramira [Eruca sativa (MilL)] is an oilseed crop that can be successfully cultivated on poor sandy soils of north-western India with conserved moisture. During the year of severe drought, when no other crop could be successfully grown, taramira is the only alternative [1]. Taramira is a highly cross pollinated crop and has sporophytic type of self-incompatibility [2]. Most of the oilseed crops suffer from low seed yield potential as compared to cereals and taramira is no exception. Thus heterosis breeding may be a potential alternative for achieving quantum jump in production and productivity of this crop.