Combining Ability Analysis for Yield and Yield Contributing Characters in Spring Wheat Under Late Sown environment

Combining ability analysis was under taken in a 10 x 10 half parental diallel progenies (F₁ and F₂) for grain yield and its component characters under late sown conditions. The gca and sca components of variance were significant for all the traits. However, the gca component of variance was predominant, indicating the predominance of additive gene effects for the traits studied. Among the ten parents HD 2285, HD 2329, Raj 1972 and HD 2428 were the best general combiners for grain yield and average to high combiners for other important traits. The best specific crosses for grain yield under heat stress environment were Sonalika x HD 2285, Raj 3077 x HD 2428, Sonalika x WH 157 and CPAN 3004 x HD 2329. The parents HD 2285 and Raj 1972 were the best general combiners for grain yield and protein content, whereas Raj 3077, Lok-1 and CPAN 3004 were the best general combiners for protein content. The most suitable specific crosses for protein content were HD 2329 x HD 2285, HD 2428 x Raj 1972 and CPAN 3004 x WH 157. Most of the specific crosses for grain yield as well as protein content involved high x average and average x average general combiners. To ensure further increase in grain yield along with high protein, combinations of desirable yield components is advocated. The exploitation of additive and non-additive gene actions through bi-parental mating and/or diallel selective mating systems are suggested for tangible advancement of grain yield coupled with high protein under heat stress environment in spring wheat.