Heterosis and inbreeding depression for grain yield and yield component traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation on heterosis and inbreeding depression was carried out for fourteen characters using genetically diverse 10 parent half diallel crosses of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The experimental materials comprised of 100 genotypes including 10 parents, their 45 F1s and 45 F2s progenies. The experiment was conducted during Rabi 2013-14 in randomized complete block design with three replications at Experimental Farm, BRDPG College, Deoria, India. Analysis of variance revealed that all components of variance showed significant differences among the parents, F1s and F2s for most of the characters indicating the presence of considerable genetic variability in the material under studied. The result of heterosis over economic parent for grain yield per plant revealed that the cross combination, UW510 × HUW468, HUW510 × HUW234, HUW510 × HD2329, HUW510 × UP2338 and HUW468 × RAJ1972, were good along with range of -13.21 (UP2338 × K65) to 53.42% (HUW510 × HUW468). All these cross combination had stable performance in both generations hence, can be exploited for development of high yielding stable lines and or isolation of desirable segregants. Negative estimates of heterotic effects were observed in some traits may be attributed to inter-allelic interactions.