Genetic analysis of some quantitative traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Combining ability of 36 F2 progenies involving nine diverse strains of bread wheat was evaluated at Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh), India. Data were recorded from parents and F2 generation for biological yield plant−1 (g), harvest index and grain yield plant−1 (g). The combining ability analysis exhibited significance of general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA) and components of genetic variances for the traits under study. The estimates of variance due to SCA (2 s) were greater than GCA (σ2 g) variances for all the traits emphasizing thereby the role of non-additive genetic effects for all the characters under study. The genotypes C 306 proved to be good general combiner for biological yield plant−1, Sonalika for harvest index and WH 147 for grain yield per plant. The cross HP 1209 × WH 147 proved to be best specific combiner for biological yield plant−1, harvest index and grain yield plant−1. Crosses displaying high SCA effects for biological yield plant−1, harvest index and grain yield plant−1 were observed to be derived from parents having various types of GCA effects (high × high, high × low, medium × medium and medium × low)