Heterosis studies using Diallel analysis in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

The present study was carried out for the estimation of heterosis and heterobeltosis in bread wheat during the year 2017-18. A diallel set of 9 x 9 was prepared by crossing nine genotypes in all possible combinations excluding reciprocals. Parents and their F1 generations were planted in RBD (randomized block design) with three replications. The observations were recorded on five randomly selected plants in parents and F1s for thirteen traits. Analysis of variances showed that significant variation is present among all the genotypes for all studied traits. The mean sums of squares due to parents as well as crosses were found highly significant for all thirteen traits, indicating the existence of substantial variation for all the traits among the genotypes as well as crosses. No any cross combination was found that exhibit significant heterosis for all the traits in the present investigation. Cross combinations namely, HD3059 × Raj3765, HD2967 ×WH1184, HD2967 × Raj3765, HD3059 × WH1184 and HD3059 × WH283 were found most promising for the grain yield per plant by showing high per se performance and heterosis over better parent. These crosses could be extensively used for developing superior segregates and better pure lines for different breeding programmes.