Study on heterosis and combining ability through diallel mating analysis in F1 generation of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Estimation of combining ability by half diallel analysis and magnitude of heterosis was conducted at Section of Rabi Cereals, C. S. A. University of Agriculture Science and Technology, Kanpur, UP, in a set of 10 parents received from Economic Botanist Region, Section of Rabi Cereals, Kanpur by making 45 cross combinations evaluated during winter and Rabi 2012-13 in RBD with three replications. The data on nine characters viz. days to 50 % flowering, Plant height, No. of tillers/plant, Spike length/plant, No. of grains/main spike, Days to maturity, 1000-grain weight and Grain yield/plant were utilized for present study. On the basis of GCA effects across eight charactersK9423 and K9533 (-0.76) are good and desirable for days to 75% flowering for crop improvement, grain yield per plant observed for PBW502 and PBW343. The most promising crosses showing significantly positive SCA effects for yield per plant K9423xHD2285and PBW502xPBW343, days to maturity is showing significantly negative SCA effect for NW2036xHD2285 (-9.68). Heterosis is estimated highest over better parent for yield per plant was HD2285xK9533 (16.15). These crosses should be exploited for further advancement in breeding programme for HYVs and early maturity, simultaneously.