Superior CMS (Ogura) lines with better combining ability improve yield and maturity in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)

Three CMS lines, Ogu1A, Ogu2A and Ogu3A were selected among ten lines after BC7 based on superior commercial, floral and seed setting traits. Introgression of sterile Ogura cytoplasm in cauliflower nuclear background reduced the flower size but did not affect commercial and seed setting traits drastically. Line x Tester analysis was done by taking these three CMS lines free from floral deformities as female parent with nine diverse lines of snowball cauliflower as tester. The parent Ogu2A exhibited highest GCA effect for curd yield (4.51) and harvest index (1.97) while Ogu1A exhibited highest GCA for earliness (-2.73). The parent, Ogu2A exhibited significant GCA for curd length (0.39) while, none of the CMS lines showed significant GCA for curd diameter and depth. Heterosis for curd yield was highest in the hybrid, Ogu2A x Kt-22 (63.5%) followed by Ogu1A x WF (36.9%) and Ogu1A x Kt-15 was the best hybrid for earliness followed by Ogu3A x Kt-22 with heterosis of -14.4% and -11.7%. However, the number of heterotic hybrids for yield and earliness was low indicating narrow genetic base of the snowball cauliflower.