Related Experiment Videos
Heterosis studies for yield and its components in bread wheat over environments
H Singh1, S N Sharma, R S Sain
1All India Coordinated Wheat and Barley Improvement Project, Rajasthan Agriculture University, Agricultural Research Station, Durgapura, Jaipur 302 108, Rajasthan, India.
Hereditas
|January 22, 2005
Summary
This study explored heterosis and inbreeding depression in bread wheat crosses. Significant heterosis for grain yield was observed, with potential for commercial exploitation and pure line isolation.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Plant Breeding
- Genetics
Background:
- Bread wheat improvement relies on understanding genetic variation.
- Heterosis (hybrid vigor) and inbreeding depression are key factors in breeding programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate heterosis over mid-parent and better parent, and inbreeding depression.
- To identify high-yielding bread wheat crosses and desirable traits across environments.
Main Methods:
- Diallel crosses involving 10 parents were conducted.
- Evaluations were performed under three distinct environmental conditions.
- Grain yield and yield-contributing traits were analyzed for heterosis and inbreeding depression.
Main Results:
- Significant positive heterobeltiosis for grain yield was observed in 83 crosses across all sowing dates.
- Twenty crosses consistently showed significant heterobeltiosis for grain yield per plant.
- Maximum heterobeltiosis for grain yield per plant reached up to 121.08% (PBW 373 x HD 2329).
- Significant inbreeding depression was frequent, with some negative instances indicating F(2) superiority.
Conclusions:
- There is substantial scope for commercial exploitation of heterosis in bread wheat.
- Identifying and isolating pure lines from heterotic crosses can further enhance yield levels.