HETEROSIS AND COMBINING ABILITY FOR SOME BREAD WHEAT CROSSES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Agronomy Faculty of Agriculture - AI-Azhar University Cairo, Egypt

2 National wheat program, FI.eld Crops Res. Institute, ARC, Egypt

Abstract

A partial diaRel crosses matting design was made among seven common
wheat varieties and lines during 2000/2001 and 200112002 seasons at the Farm of the
Fac. of Agtlc. AI·Azhar univ. Madient Nasr, Cairo. Egypt. Significant mean squares
were obtained for genotypes, parents. crosses 'or all traits studied. Parents vs
crosses for heading dale. No .• Kernels/spike 1000- Kemels weight and Grain
yield/plant were also significant. P1 and Ps were at the top of the tested parents in
grain yield/plant. The !WO crosses P2 X P5 and P2 x PI! gave the highest values of grain
yieldfplant. The mean squares assccratee with GCA and SCA were significant for all
traits studied which indicated the presence of both additive and non-additive types of
gene eHects including dominance. The ratioes of GCAfSCA were more than unity in all
traits except for No. spikes/plant which indicated that additive gene effects were more
important than dominance in the expression of these traits. The crosses P2 X P5 • P2 X
Pe . P2 X P7 and P3 X Ps gave Significant values fer heterotIc effect relative to better
parent for grain yield/plant.