Estimate of Heterosis and Combining Ability in Diallel Bread Wheat Crosses (Triticum aestivum L.)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Wheat Res. Dep., Field Crops Res. Institute, ARC, Egypt.

2 Agron. Dept., Fac. of Agric., Tanta Univ.

Abstract

This investigation was carried out at the experimental farm of Etai El-Baroud Agricultural Research Station, El-Beheira Governorate (Agricultural Research Center) during the two successive growing seasons 2006/2007 and 2007/2008. Five bread wheat cultivars and lines, Triticum aestivum L. en Thell, representinga wide range of diversity for several agronomic characters were selected for the study. The five parents and ten crosses were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications with recommended fertilization. The genetic analysis (variance, combining ability, heterosis, and path coefficient analysis) of grain yield per plant and some agronomic traits, i.e., (days to anthesis, days to maturity, plant height, spike length, number of tillers/plant, number of spikes/ plant, number of grains/spike and 1000-grain weight) were evaluated. Differences among parents and hybrids were significant. Highly significant heterosis was depicted in two crosses (P1´ P3) and (P1 ´ P2) for grain yield/plant.Three parental combinations; (P1´ P2), (P1×P3) and (P1´ P5) expressed significant specific combining ability effects for grain yield/plant. The Number of grains/spike followed by 1000-grain weight proved to be the major grain yield contributors. 

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