Combining ability computation from diallel crosses comprising ten bread wheat cultivars

Combination ability analysis in bread wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) em. Thell.] involving 10 diverse parents and their 45 F₁ and F₂ progenies under normal sown condition indicated significant differences among the parents for gca and crosses for sca for all the characters studied. The gca and sca components of variance were significant for all the traits. The gca/sca ratio showed preponderance of non-additive gene actions for characters. Based on per se performance and gca effects, parents Raj 4058 and HP 1863 emerged as good general combiners for grain yield per plant and average to high combiners for other important traits. On the basis of per se performance and sca effects the crosses for grain yield HP 1863 x Raj 4058, WH 786 x UP 2611 and PBW 533 x PBW 509 emerged as good specific cross combinations. To ensure further increase in grain yield, combining desirable yield components are advocated. The exploitation of additive and non-additive gene actions through bi-parental mating and/or diallel selective mating systems is suggested for tangible advancement of grain yield in bread wheat.