Combining ability analysis for yield traits in breadwheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Theil)

Combining ability analysis was conducted in 8x8 parental diallel progenies for yield traits (numbr of grains/spike, grain weight of five spikes, 100-grain weight and yield/plant) in bread wheat The magnitude of additive genetic variance was comparatively higher than non-additive variance for all the characters studied. In general, per se performance of the parent is closely related with the general combining ability effect Most of the crosses with high specific combining ability effects had at least one good general combiner parent The crosses, viz., HP-1633 x WH-147 and HD-2285 x HD-2329, involving diverse parents for number of grains/spike, 100-grain weight and grain weight/plant could possibly be utilised for further selection of high yielding progenies in this crop.