Abstract:By bioluminescent assay the ATP content of rice seedings homogenate of parents, which produce a heterotic or nonheterotic hybrid, was determined. It was found that the sum of ATP content of parents, which produce a heterotic hybrid was >2.0 × 10-6 mmoles/g seedlings homogenate, while that of parents of nonheterotic hybrids was <2.0×10-6 mmoles/g seedlings homogenate. This method has been applied to evaluate the heterosis of 15 rice crosses in vitro. Results indicated that 14/15 of the experimental subjects were in coincidence with the above-mentioned findings.