Combining ability in the F₁ and F₂ generations of diallel cross in hexaploid triticale

The F₁ and F₂ progenies of a nine-parent diallel cross were analysed for combining ability for days to flowering, plant height, spike length, number of tillers, spikelets and grains, 100-grain weight, and grain yield. Significant contribution of general (gca) and specific (sca) combining abilities to the genetic variation was evident for all the traits, but the greater part of variation for days to flowering, spike length and spikelet number was due to gca. The best sca effects were obtained with the lines exhibiting either low or high gea. Further, the magnitude and direction of gca effects of parents and sca effects of crosses tended to vary from F₁ and F₂ generation.