Study of combining ability for yield and its contributing traits in bread wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.)]
Abstract
An experiment on combining ability for yield and its contributing traits in wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.)]” was carried out through Line x Tester analysis at Centre for Crop Improvement, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar. Experimental materials comprising twelve parents, thirty-two crosses and one tester, GW 496 as standard check were planted in a randomized block design with two replications during rabi 2012-13 season. The analysis of variance for experimental design revealed that highly significant differences were existed among genotypes, parents and hybrids for most of traits. The analysis of variance for combining ability revealed specific combining ability variances for m x f interaction were highly significant for plant height, number of effective tillers per plant and grain yield per spike. The magnitude of general combining ability variances was higher than the specific combining ability variances for all the characters which indicated preponderance of additive gene action in the inheritance of these traits. This was further supported by high magnitude of σ2gca / σ2sca ratios. On the basis of general combining ability (gca) effects none of the parent was good general combiners for all the characters. Among female GW 11 and male GW 322 was found to be good general combiner for grain yield per plant, harvest index and protein content, respectively. Six males showed significant general combining ability effects of which, GW 190 (4.85) and GW 322 (3.13) showed significant positive general combining ability effects for grain yield potential. In case of GW 503 (1.00) exhibited significant positive general combining ability effect for grain yield per plant. The results of specific combining ability effects of different cross revealed that none of the crosses showed significant and negative specific combining ability effects for days to 50 per cent heading, days to maturity and plant height and significant and positive specific combining ability effect were observed for number of effective tillers per plant, length of main spike and grain yield per spike. In case of SCA hybrids viz., GW 11 x GW 273 (0.42), GW 11 x GW 190 (0.35) and GW 173 x GW 438 (0.34) exhibited significant positive specific combining ability effects. Therefore, these crosses are revealed as good general combiner and can be utilized in breeding for improvement in yield and its contributing traits in wheat crop.
It is certified that:
- The corresponding author is fully responsible for any disputes arising due to the publication of his/her manuscript.
- The article has been seen by all the authors who are satisfied with its form and content.
- The sequence of names of authors in the by-line is as per their relative contribution to this experiment, giving due credit to all scientists who made notable contribution to it.
- All the authors fully understand that inclusion of any other co-authors or exclusion of any co-authors is not possible once the article has been submitted to the journal.
- The corresponding author takes full responsibility for this article.
- The address of the organization where the research was conducted is given.
- The article is exclusive for this journal, and the results reported here have not been sent (and will not be sent during its consideration by this journal) for publication in any other journal.
- Authors agree to abide by the objective comments of referees and do agree to modify the article into a short note as per the recommendation, for publication in the Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding.
- If published in Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, the copyright of this article would vest with the Indian Society of Plant Breeders, who will have the right to enter into any agreement with any organization in India or abroad engaged in reprography, photocopying, storage and dissemination of information contained in it, and neither we nor our legal heirs will have any claims on royalty.
