Heterotic performance of diallel F₁ crosses over parents for yield and its contributing traits in bread wheat

The present investigation comprised of 7 lines of wheat and their 21 crosses in half diallel fashion with the objective to study the combining ability analysis, genetic variability parameters and heterosis for yield and its contributing traits. The experiment was carried out in randomized block design with three replication and data were recorded on 14 characters related to maturity, yield and its attributing traits and quality. Results revealed that the differences among the genotypes were highly significant for all the characters studied except productive tillers per plant and sedimentation value. Among the parents, UP 2672 can be ranked as the best parent as it combined well for the highest number of yield contributing characters. The cross QLD 40 × UP 2672 was found as good cross combination for maximum number of traits. Best crosses based on highest sca effects in desirable direction were UP 2526 × UP 2672 for earliness and grain yield per plant. PBW 621 × UP 2672 for earliest heading, plant height. However, diallel cross HD 2967 × UP 2672 was reflected as maximum protein content over all the crosses, parents and checks.