Combining ability and heterosis for yield and its contributing traits in wheat Triticum aestivum L under sodic soil

Abstract

The present study was conducted at Genetics and plant Breeding Research Farm Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) during Rabi, 2019-20 and 2020-21. Eighty seven genotypes comprising 64 F1, 16 parents and 3 checks (16 lines + 4 testers + 3 checks) were evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replications in two environments/ conditions (E1= Timely sown; E2= Late sown) under sodic soil. Ten competitative plants from each plot were randomly selected for recording observation for all the quantitative character except day to 50% flowering and maturity which were recorded on plot basis. newlineThe mean squares due to treatments were highly significant for all the characters studied except number of tillers per plant 2.24 in timely sown (E1) and 1.45 in late sown (E2)are non-significant. Best five crosses that have higher grain yield per plant (g)- PBW-778 x NW-5054(24.32), PBW-780 x NW-5054 (24.01), PBW-778 x HD-2967 (23.65), PBW-780 x HD-2967 (23.31) and HS-645 x NW-5054 (23.10) in timely sown (E1). And in late sown (E2) condition, PBW-778 x NW-5054(22.20), PBW-780 x NW-5054 (21.91), PBW-778 x HD-2967 (21.57), HS-645 x NW-5054 (21.07), and PBW-780 x HD-2967 (21.06). newlineThe high estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation were found in both environment grain yield per plant (g) in timely sown (E1) and late sown (E2) exhibited. The moderate estimates of PCV recorded for the characters, plant height (cm), number of tillers per plant, spike length (cm), number of spikelet s per spike, grain per spike, peduncle length (cm), biological yield per plant (g), harvest index (%), and chlorophyll content in both E1 and E2, condition and Flag leaf area (cm2) in E2. The high estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation were found in both environment Grain yield per plant (g) in E1 and E2 exhibited. newline