Genetic Control of Fiber Yield and Quality in Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.)

The study was conducted to investigate the genetic basis of kenaf fiber yield and quality In two sets of generations derived from 1X51 x Ghana07 and Gregg x Ghana07 crosses. Analysis of generation means using weighted least squares procedure was performed on stalk dry weight, bast percentage, days to flowering, plant height, and basal stalk diameter . Analysis of generation means revealed that bast percentage was mainly controlled by dominance effects whereas stalk dry weight was mainly controlled by additive effects. Estimates of heterosis based on midparental values were generally high and ranged from 10 to 55% for stalk dry weight and bast percentage. Estimates of inbreeding depression, calculated from F1 and F2 generation means, were 55% for stalk dry weight in Population 1 and 43% in Population 2. Estimates of inbreeding depression for bast percentage were 5% in Population 1 and 15% in Population 2. The results of this study indicated that the portion of phenotypic variations, which is controlled by additive gene effects, was generally high for stalk dry weight. Thus, selecting the segregating generations would lead to significant improvement of fiber yield.