Varietal Trial of Single Cross F1 Hybrid in American Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

Abstract

         A performance evaluation of single-cross F₁ hybrids of the American marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)
for cut flower production was done over 3 seasons at the experiment plots of Homeseeds Co., Ltd., Amphur Chomtong, Chiang Mai. The objectives of research were to select single-cross F₁ hybrids of good plant types and flower quality and to select the parental lines for seed production. The research study was laid out with
a Randomized Complete Block Design with factorial arrangement. A total of 62 single-cross F₁ hybrids from 2 male and 31 female parental lines were planted. Combined analysis of variance for 3 seasons revealed highly significant differences in plant types and flower quality of the single-cross F₁ hybrids and parental lines. In addition, interaction between the parental lines had a highly significant effect on the flower quality. Furthermore, the research indicated that the MG073 male parental line had the highest average value for both characteristics. The female parental lines F35 and F45 had the highest average score of 6.0 in plant type, and F23 had the highest average score of 6.4 for flower quality. The hybridization of F23 and MG073, however, produced the highest average score of 7.2 for flower quality. Consequently, breeder seeds from male and female parental lines with good appearance characteristics will be used for the production of commercial single-cross F₁ hybrids of the American marigold for production of cut flowers.