Evaluation of economic heterosis and heterotic potential with grain yield and physiological traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

To utilize heterosis and heterotic potential for grain yield and its attributing traits along with four physiological traits viz., flag leaf area, Chlorophyll Content Index (CCI), Chlorophyll Stability Index (CSI) and leaf canopy temperature in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The crosses were attempted during Rabi, 2021-22 in a Line x Tester mating scheme among 13 wheat varieties (10 lines and 3 testers) to generate 30 crosses. The evaluation trial comprised of all the 30 crosses and 13 parents along with 2 standard checks was carried out during Rabi, 2022-23, following Randomized Complete Block Design replicated three times, at the Instructional Agronomy Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, M.P.U.A.T., Udaipur (Rajasthan). The analysis of variance demonstrated that all the genotypes were significantly different from each other regarding all the characters, pointing towards presence of ample of genetic variation. The mean sum of squares due to genotypes, parents and crosses were noted significant for all the characters. Based on per se performance, among parents IC 427824 (19.87 g) and Raj 4079 (19.76 g) while among the crosses WH 730 x DBW 187 (23.78 g), and DBW 173 x Raj 4079 (22.21 g), were identified for the higher grain yield. The cross WH 730 x DBW 187 (52.86%) was identified as the best heterotic cross for grain yield per plant and its component traits. The cross WH 730 x DBW 187 (3.09), as well as the parent GW-2014-596 (1.14) were identified as superior economic hybrid and parent based on SCA/GCA effects, per se performance for grain yield per plant, and its component trait in bread wheat.