Investigation on heterosis for grain micronutrients Zn, Fe and identifying heterotic single cross hybrids in tetraploid wheat

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted at AICRP on Wheat, Dharwad, during rabi 2018-19. A comprehensive analysis of various yield and yield-related components and grain nutrients was carried out among 45 single cross hybrids. Three popular cultivated varieties DDK-1029, HW-1098, and NP-200 employed as lines, while local germplasm of dicoccum with high grain nutrients as testers. Highly significant differences were observed among the F1 for all the traits studied. Significant heterosis, heterobeltosis, and standard heterosis were observed in the cross HW 1098 × GPM DIC 66 with a value 63.95, 62.63, 61.00, respectively, and it was adjudged best heterotic cross combination for grain yield per plant. The cross combination NP-200 × GPM DIC 25 exhibited significant positive standard heterosis for Zn content over mid parent (20.62), better parent (7.82), and check (28.47). The cross HW-1098 × GPM DIC 105 exhibited the highest and significant positive heterosis over better parent and mid parent for grain protein content. These crosses can be used in developing high yielding cultivar with good quality traits.