Heterosis and Combining Ability for Mineral Nutrients in Snowball Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) Using Ogura Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Lines

Development of nutritionally rich hybrids is one of the main breeding objectives in vegetable crops to counter micronutrient malnutrition. The present study evaluates the combining ability and heterosis for different dietary minerals in snowball cauliflower. Five genetically diverse Ogura cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines of cauliflower and seven male fertile testers were crossed in line × tester mating scheme to obtain 35 F₁ hybrids. The assessment of the F₁s along with their parental lines for 8 important macro- and microelements revealed a wide range of heterosis. The CMS line, Ogu 13-85 was identified as a good general combiner for sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) content, whereas Ogu 101 for Mn, Zn, sulphur (S) and magnesium (Mg) contents. The lines with better general combining ability (GCA) produced majority of the heterotic hybrids. However, GCA alone was not sufficient to determine and identify the potential parental lines. The hybrid, Ogu 101 × Lalchowk Maghi was found to be the best heterotic combination for potassium (K), S and Zn content. The cross Ogu 13-85 × Lalchowk Maghi was the best heterotic hybrid for Na and Ca content. The cross-combinations Ogu 13-85 × DB-187, Ogu 13-01 × DB-187 and Ogu 13-01 × Sel-26 showed high heterosis for accumulation of Mg, Fe and Mn, respectively. It was observed that both GCA and specific combining ability were important for heterosis of mineral content in snowball cauliflower.