Combining Ability in Breadwheat

Heterosis was examined in relation to combining ability effects in a 8×8 diallel cross experiment in wheat. Highest heterosis of 33.22, 12.72, 22.32, 66.61, 52.94, 189.89 and 5.07% was observed over economic parent for protein content, tryptophan content, seed hardness, coleoptile length, radicle length, root spread area and grain yield, respectively. The results of mean performance of the crosses agreed well with the overall status of the specific combining ability effects, indicating that selection of the crosses based on heterotic response is equally effective. High × high, high × low, and law × low general combiners could cause heterosis in the best crosses.