Mid-parent advantage and heterobeltiosis in F1 hybrids from crosses of winter and spring wheat

Abstract

The magnitude of heterosis over mid-parent and better-parent for yield and yield contributing characters were calculated in 7 x 7 diallel set of four winter (Druchamp, Fanjai 2, Wei 132 and Zhong 65) and three spring wheat (HD 2687, UP 2425 and PBW 373) for two years. For grain yield 19 crosses showed heterobeltiosis as well as mid-parent heterosis in both the years. HD 2687 among spring and Zhong65 among winter adjudged best parents on the basis of high heterotic values for grain yield and its attributes. Winter x spring and winter x winter wheat crosses were found to be the potential crosses for high heterosis for grain yield per plant. On the contrary spring x spring and spring x winter were found to be the potential crosses for high heterosis for biological weight per plant. On the basis of high heterosis and stable performance Zhong 65/ HD 2687 and Zhong 65/ UP 2425 were the best winter x spring crosses followed by Druchamp/ Wei 132 a winter x winter cross. Heterosis for biological yield per plant, thousand grain weight, grain weight per ear, effective tillers per plant were independently associated with grain yield per plant in spring x winter as well as in winter x spring wheat crosses, therefore, heterosis for yield was through component heterosis in these crosses. The present study suggests ample scope for exploitation of heterosis for commercial production of hybrid wheat by involving winter wheat gene pool for getting further break through in wheat yields.