Heterosis for grain yield and its contributing traits in bread wheat (T. aestivum L.)

Abstract

Eight diverse genotypes viz., HD 3171, WH 147, K 906, K 307, K 1006, K 7903, DBW 14, and PBW 502 were crossed in diallel mating design excluding reciprocals for studying of heterosis in F1 generation of wheat. The range of heterosis was observed -30.25 to 14.17for grain yield per plant, -7.92 to 2.43 for days to maturity,-16.01 to 6.12 for plant height, -32.67 to 22.01 for number of tiller per plant, -13.61 to 7.88 for 1000-grain weight, and -18.83 to 20.76 for harvest index. The cross WH147 X DBW14 for grain yield per plant, K7903 X PBW502 for days to maturity, K7903 X PBW502 for plant height, DBW14 X PBW502 for number of tiller per plant, WH147 X K1006 for 1000-grain weight and K1006 X DBW14 for harvest index. was observed best cross with highest heterosis. The cross combinations namely WH147 x DBW14, K7903 x DBW14, WH147 x K1006, K307 x K1006 were found promising for yield, yield components and quality traits. The cross K7903 x DBW14 exhibited desirable heterotic response for four other traits; viz., days to 75% heading, plant height, number of grains per spike and biological yield.