Abstract:
Heterosis refers to a hybrid’s superiority or inferiority over both parents. Heterosis is regarded as one of the most significant advances in crop plant science. Kolreuter was the first to study fake tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) hybrids in 1673. Charles Darwin initially described heterosis in 1876, concluding that hybrids of different plant kinds were extremely vigorous. Shull and East both recommended heterosis breeding as an alternate plant breeding strategy in 1908. Shull later defined ‘heterosis’ as the developmental stimulation arising from the union of various gametes, and ‘hybrid vigour’ as the manifestation of heterosis effects in 1914. Hayes and Jones discovered hybrid vigour in cucumber for fruit size and number for the first time in 1916 (2). Munger was also the first to mention the possibility of using F1 hybrids in muskmelon in 1942. IARI, New Delhi, reported the first instance of hybrid chilli in India. Then, in India, a continuous hybridization programme will be implemented.