QUANTITATIVE GENETIC-ANALYSIS OF GROWTH-RATE IN LISIANTHUS

A study was made of the inheritance of stem elongation rate during ear ly (SER1) and late (SER2) vegetative growth period, of mean leaf width (MLW) and of days to flowering (DTF) in lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflo rum Shinn.). The analysis was based on the data of an Fl diallel cross between different breeding lines. Marked directional heterosis was fo und for SER1, SER2 and MLW, but not for DTF, in which the dominance ef fects were incomplete and non-directional. SER1 and SER2 were positive ly correlated with MLW, but negatively correlated with DTF. The implic ations and the potential of heterotic growth rate of Fl hybrid lisiant hus are discussed.