Yield and Fertility of Rapeseed Hybrids Derived from R2000 × Male-Sterile Lines

Early vigor, stress resistance, uniformity, high yield, and breeder right protection have turned hybrid cultivar development into the most successful breeding strategy in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). The goals of this research were to develop the first CMS based rapeseed hybrids in Iran and to evaluate their performance and fertility. The effect of different traits on yield increasing of hybrids was also studied. Seven CMS lines were crossed with R2000 (a restorer-line) and the seed yield of hybrids was tested using a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Three of hybrids with 4.64, 4.40, and 4.38 tons per hectare, showed considerable yield and were significantly different than Nilufar, Neptune, and Nima (3.44, 3.37, and 3.30 tons per hectare, respectively), as check cultivars. R2000×A8 demonstrated the highest heterosis (34.71%) to high-check cultivar. All hybrids obtained were normal in terms of fertility, having no male-sterile flowers. Based on the results of principal component analysis and cluster analysis, the simultaneous increase in the number of pods per plant and the thousand seed weight, together with crossing the more distant parents will lead to more high yielding hybrids. The promising hybrids with high yield and remarkable fertility could be released as new cultivars after passing adaptability and stability experiments.