Genetic behavior analysis for phytochemical traits in coriander: Heterosis, inbreeding depression and genetic effects

Increasing fruit yield, fatty acids and essential oils content in coriander are the main objectives. Reaching them need to understand the nature of gene action and quantifying the heterosis and inbreeding depression. Six genetically diverse parents, their 15 F1 one-way hybrids and 15 F2 populations were evaluated under different levels of water treatments. Beside the water treatment and genotype effects, the genetic effects of general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability and their interactions with water treatment were significant for all traits. Water deficit stress decreased all traits in both F1 and F2 generations except for essential oil content which were significantly increased due to water deficit stress. Under water deficit stress, a non-additive gene action nature was predominant in F1 generation while an additive gene action nature was more important in F2 generation for all the traits except fruit yield under severe water deficit stress. There was a positive high heterosis for the traits examined in some hybrids. Also, in F2 generation even after inbreeding depression, some promising populations displayed appropriate mean performance. These show that the parents used for crossing had rich gene pool for studied traits. Therefore, selection between the individuals of relevant F2 populations could be led to develop high yielding hybrids or transgressed lines.