Heterosis in the hybridisation between the monoecious and dioecious subspecies ofEcballium elaterium (L.) Richard

By means of a statistical analysis carried out on a number of samples grown in balanced incomplete blocks, respectively corresponding to filial generations which (pure, hybrid or backcross) can be discerned in the hybridisation between the monoecious and dioecious subspecies of the Mediterranean wild cucurbitaceaeEcballium elaterium (L.) Richard, the possible presence of a group of polygenes which modify or regulate the durability of the life of the plants has been investigated, studying especially the most frequent and the most characteristic observable effect of polygenes, the heterosis or hybrid vigour. Experimental results indicates that there is heterosis with respect to the survival of the individual plant. The occurrence of the phenomenon of heterosis is experimental evidence of the presence of a system of polygenes which has influence upon this particular quality of the plant (survival). Every one of these polygenes in the genotype of a subspecies has alleles somehow different from those of another (ofE. elaterium).