Heterosis breeding based on male sterility has become established in many field crops and has been credited with large productivity. This book presents an update into the advent and promise of hybrids through a comprehensive coverage of theoretical and applied aspects of heterosis breeding. Its principal elements are the hybrid advantage, pollination control mechanisms and finally the production of hybrid seeds. Individual crop specialists have presented in-depth analysis of intricacies involved in the development of hybrids of rice, wheat, maize, barley, pearl millet, sorghum, cotton, sunflower, rapeseed-mustard, castor, pigeonpea, tomato, onion, cole crops, peppers, muskmelon and watermelon. The book will be used by researchers, teachers and students of botany, genetics horticulture and plant breeding.

Heterosis: An Introduction / Male Sterility: Classification and Concept / Male Sterility: Molecular Characterization / Self-Incompatibility / Monoecious and Dioecious Floral Morphologies / Chemical Hybridizing Agents / Biotechnology and Hybrid Breeding / Molecular Genetic Markers / Rice / Wheat / Maize / Barley / Pearl Millet / Sorghum / Cotton / Sunflower / Rapeseed and Mustard / Castor / Pigeonpea / Tomato / Onion / Cole Crops / Capsicum / Muskmelon / Watermelon / Subject Index.

Students, Teachers and Researchers of Botany, Genetics, Horticulture and Plant Breeding