ABSTRACT
The present study revealed that all characters showed in variable crosses depicted heterosis in both positive and negative directions indicating that genes with negative as well as positive effects were dominant. The cross JCS-596 x Swetha showed highest positive heterosis for number of branches per plant over mid parent. The range of heterosis for number of capsules per plant was 74.27 to 50.74 over better parent. Maximum positive heterosis for number of capsules per plant was exhibited by NIC 8283x KMR-74 over mid parent and better parent. The magnitude of heterosis was 103.62 % and 98.53 % over mid parent and better parent for yield per plant respectively. The hybrids Rajeswari x Swetha, Chandana x Swetha, JCS-596 x KMR-74, JCS-596 x Swetha and NIC 8283x KMR-74 recorded highly significant positive standard heterosis for plant height. Maximum significant standard heterosis for number of capsules per plant was found in the crosses NIC 8283 x KMR-74, Chandana x Swetha and NIC-8392 x Swetha. The crosses Chandana x Swetha (36.63%) and NIC 8283 x KMR-74 (18.26%) were exhibited highest standard heterosis for seed yield per plant.The crosses JCS-596 x Swetha, NIC 8283 x KMR-74 and Chandana x Swetha can be utilized in heterosis breeding.