Study of heterosis for grain yield and its components in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.)

Abstract

The extent of wheat heterosis was determined by synthesizing 45 hybrids in a 10×10 diallel method, eliminating reciprocals, to determine how widespread it is. The 57 entries that made up the experimental material—10 parents, 45 crosses and 2 checks (HD 3086 and UP 2628), were assessed over the course of rabi 2018–19 using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications, and observations were made for 12 characters. For yield and its component traits, analyses of heterosis over mid parent, better parent and two standard checks were conducted. ANOVA exposed that there was a high significance existed among all the genotypes for all the characters studied. Yield and its contributing traits have been evaluated for their maximum heterotic range. One cross i.e., CAL/NH//H567.71/3/SER1/4/CAL/NH//H567.71/5/2* KAU2/6/...×PBW 692 showed positive significance for relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis over both checks for grain yield per plant. In terms of the number of productive tillers per plant and the number of grains per spike, UP 2901×QLD 73 was found to be a superior heterotic F1. By displaying a negative significant standard heterosis over both checks, the cross between CAL/NH//H567.71/3/SER1/4/CAL/NH//H567.71/5/2*KAU2/6/...×UP 2901 demonstrated its earliness. The desired significant relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for spike length were present in HD 3234×UP 2762. The finest heterotic cross combinations for harvest index were determined to be CAL/NH//H567.71/3/SER1/4/CAL /NH//H567.71/5/2* KAU2/6/...×UP 2762 and VORB/SOKOLL×QLD 73. Higher heterotic crossings may be used to identify transgressive segregants that will increase bread wheat production and yield-contributing characteristics.