Combining ability analysis of physiological and economic traits in breadwheat (Triticum aestivum L.) over environments

Combining ability analysis of physiological and economic traits was conducted involving nine diverse parents of breadwheat in all possible combinations excluding reciprocals. The mean squares for both general combining ability (gca) and specific combining ability (sca) were significant for all the characters studied in each analysis. This indicated the involvement of both additive and nonadditive gene actions in the inheritance of characters. In general, high magnitudes of gca variance depicted the greater importance of additive gene action in the inheritance of traits under study. The environment played a significant role in the expression of almost all the traits. The gca x year interaction exhibited greater sensitivity in most cases except net assimilation rate, biological yield, and grain yield than sca x year interaction. Cvs. Lok-1 andWH 147 emerged as desirable general combiners. The crosses, Sonalika X HD 2402, Sonalika X J 405, Sonalika X K 8470, HUW 234 X JWJ 80-4, HI 1148 X Lok-1, and WH 147 x K 8470 were the most desirable specific combinations for grain yield and other physiological and economic traits.