Abstract
Six advance lines IR1, IR2, IR3, RF1, RF2 and RF3 and four cultivars Pirsabak-08 (PS08), Janbaz (JZ), Zam-04 (ZM04) and
Kohat-10 (KT10) were crossed in line × testers fashion in spring 2011 to produce F1 hybrids. The experimental material
consisting of 34 genotypes (10 parents and 24 F1 hybrids) were evaluated under irrigated conditions in triplicated randomized
complete block design at Cereal Crops Research Institute (CCRI), Pirsabak, Nowshera, Pakistan during 2011-12. Data were
recorded on tillers plant-1
, spike length, grains spike-1
, 1000-grain weight, biological and grain yield plant-1
. Mean of 24 F1
hybrids was greater than mean of 10 parents for all traits studied. Among lines RF3 and testers ZM-04 were good general
combiners for most of the yield traits including grain yield plant-1
. Cross combination RF3 × PS08 proved as good specific
combiner showing positive SCA effects for all traits including grain yield plant-1
. Crosses viz. IR1 × JZ, RF2 × ZM04 and RF2
× KT10 proved as good specific combiners for all traits except 1000-grain weight. Another three set of crosses viz. IR2 × JZ,
RF1 × KT10 and RF1× JZ proved as good specific combiners for all traits except grains spike-1
, biological yield and grain
yield plant-1
, respectively. All aforementioned crosses expected to yield transgressive segregants with more grain yield
compared to their parents as these cross combinations had positive SCA effects for grain yield plant-1
. GCA to SCA variances
ratio revealed predominantly non-additive gene effects in the inheritance of all traits in wheat. Development of high yielding
varieties with improved traits is therefore suggested through selection in late segregating generations.
