Merits, Demerits and Achievement of Synthetic Varieties
Merits of Synthetic Varieties:
1) Synthetic varieties offer a feasible means of utilizing heterosis incrop species, where pollination control is difficult.
2) Farmers can use the grain produced from a synthetic varieties as seed to raise the next crop.
3) In variable environments synthetic are likely to do better than hybrid variety.
4) The cost of seed in synthetic variety is relatively lower than hybrid varieties.
5) Seed production in case of synthetic variety required less skill operation than hybrid.
6) Synthetic varieties are good reservoirs of genetic variability.
7) The performance of synthetic varieties can be considerably improved through population improvement without reducing variability, which is not possible with hybrids.
Demerits of Synthetic Varieties:
1) The performance of synthetic variety is usually lower than best single or double cross hybrid.
2) Synthetic variety can be produced and maintained only in cross- pollinated crop.
3) The performance of synthetic variety is adversely affected to relatively poorer GCA.
Achievements of Synthetic Varieties:
Synthetic varieties have been developed in cross- pollinated crops like maize, pearl millet, sunflower, Sugarbeet, alfalfa, lucerne, etc. in U.S.A. In India synthetic varieties have been evolved in pearl millet at ICRISAT and in Sugarbeet at pantnagar.
Ex. Sugarbeet- pant synthetic – 3, Cauliflower- synthetic -3, bajara- ICMS-7703.