The Role of Harvest Index in Improving Crop Productivity: A Review

Harvest index (HI) is a measure of success in partitioning assimilated photosynthate. An improvement of crop harvest index means an increase in the economic portion of the crops in certain level. HI is a novel trait which contributed significant role in improvement of crop productivity which could solve the problem of food supplies for the rapidly increasing population. The objective of this paper was to review the role and progress of HI in improving crop productivity.  Although crop HI influenced by both environmental and genetic factors, the progress improvement of HI and yield through crop management technique and breeding method strategy is an anticipative. In addition, the knowledge of genetic mode of expression of HI provides information for breeder to determine next breeding method. Keywords: Additive, Environmental, Genetic, Harvest index, non additive, productivity DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/9-6-04 Publication date :March 31 st 2019