Nine diverse induced mutants and the source cultivar K 68 of breadwheat were analysed in a 10 X 10 diallei cross for combining ability for grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield per plant in F1 and F2 generations. The importance of both additive and nonadditive gene effects was evident in the inheritance of these yield traits, although additive gene effects were predominant. The per se performance of the mutants was highly associated with their gca effects. Among the mutants, C′3+12+13C, HUW Df-9, HUW Br-3, HUW Br-1 for grains per spike; K 68 and HUW Br-1 for 1000-grain weight and C′3+12+13C, HUW Df-9, HUW Br-3, HUW Df-1, and K 68 were the best general combiners for grain yleid/plant. Most or the crosses with significant sat effects involved one good and one average or poor combiner.
Combining ability, induced mutants, breadwheat, Triticum aestivum
