Combining ability analysis in wheat (Triticum Aestivum l.)

Abstract

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