Combining ability analysis in wheat (!Triticum Aestivum l.)

Abstract

Abstract: The combining ability was studied in the F| generation in an eight-parent diallcl cross for days to heading, plant height, number of spikes/plant, spike length and grain yield/plant. The variance due to (ICA and SCA were highly significant for all the characters studied. The magnitude of GCA and SCA ratio revealed that the genetic system controlling the characters viz. days to heading, plant height and spike length was largely due to additive gene effect. The non¬additive gene action was important for number of spikes/plant and grain yicld/plant. The parents Ananda and Dirk were the best general combiners. The crosses Ananda x Kheri, Ananda x Sonalika, Balaka x Dirk, Ciano 79 x Sonora 64 and Dirk x Kanchan exhibited high significant SCA effects for grain yield/plant.