Correlation, Path-Coefficient, and Economic Heterosis Studies in CMS-Based Cabbage Hybrids over Different Environments

Abstract

Securing food for an expanding population in the face of climate change necessitates a transformation of global food systems towards sustainability, emphasizing nutritional quality and environmental consequences. This research assessed eight cytoplasmic male sterility-based cabbage hybrids and two controls across nine environments from 2020 to 2022 to improve cabbage output and sustainability. Essential characteristics, including head weight, compactness, and yield, were examined, revealing considerable heterogeneity and elevated heritability for features such as ascorbic acid content (98.41%) and net head weight (86.12%). Yield had a favorable correlation with characteristics such as net head weight and harvest index. Path coefficient research revealed that gross and net head weight have the most significant direct effects on yield. Heterosis research indicated UHF-CAB-HYB-1 had the highest significant positive heterosis in yield compared to the standard checks, Pusa Hybrid-81 and Pusa Cabbage-1, across all nine conditions. The results underscore the need to identify essential characteristics for the creation of high-yield, hardy cabbage hybrids, in accordance with sustainable agriculture and food security objectives.