Gene action and genetic diversity in a six parental diallel crosses of wheat

Abstract

Six varieties of bread wheat were crossed in half diallel analysis. The fifteen F1's and their parents were evaluated. The experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Experimental farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University Shebin El -Kom, Egypt during 2020/2021. The results cleared that genotypes, parents and the resultant fifteen crosses mean squares were found to be highly significant for all traits studied. Parent vs. crosses mean squares as an indication to average heterosis over all crosses were found to be highly significant for all traits studied. Variance of general combining ability was found to be highly significant for all traits studied. The parental variety Shandaweel-1 proved to be good general combiner for grain yield per spike and grain yield per plant. Also, Giza-171 was good general combiner in heading date, grain yield per spike. The most desirable SCA effects for grain yield per plant were detected by the seven hybrids i.e.