Heterosis and Combing Ability in F1 Population of Hexaploid Wheat ( Triticum Aestivum L.)

Abstract

The heterosis, heterobeltiosis, general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were examined during Rabi (crop season) of 2013-2014 in hexaploid wheat genotypes. The experiment for this study was conducted at the Botanical Garden, Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Pakistan. The breeding material was comprised of four parents (Imdad, TD-1, SKD-1, and Moomal). These parents were crossed in half partial mating fashion; thus, six possible cross combinations (F1s) were obtained (Imdad × TD-1, Imdad × SKD-1, Imdad × Moomal, TD-1 × SKD-1, TD-1 × Moomal, and SKD-1 × Moomal). A three-replicated RCB Design was used. The mean squares corresponding to different traits of various hexaploid wheat genotypes indicated significant (P < 0.01) GCA (parents) and SCA (F1 hybrids) effects for the characters (plant height, tillers plant−1, spike length, spikelets spike−1, seeds spike−1, seed index, and grain yield plant−1). The mean performance of F1 hybrids differed significantly (P < 0.01) for all the traits studied. Among the parents, Imdad and TD-1 proved to be better general combiners for almost all the studied traits. In regards to SCA effects, the F1 hybrids Imdad × TD-1 and Imdad × SKD-1 expressed higher SCA and heterotic effects for most of the studied traits.