Genetic analysis of yield and its attributes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell) under irrigated and rainfed conditions

Experiments were conducted to study genetics and combining ability for yield and its attributes under Irrigated (E1) and Rainfed (E2) conditions using F1 hybrids derived from Line X Tester mating design by crossing eleven lines with three testers. Significant differences were observed among all the genotypes for all the traits in both E1 and E2 environments. The σ 2 gca/σ 2 sca ratio indicated the predominance of non-additive gene action for all the characters in both environments. Therefore, this component of the variance can be utilized in the breeding program through the exploitation of heterosis and the selection process for identification of superior plant types should be postponed to further generations like F4 or F5. Based on combining ability effect and per se performance in rainfed conditions, parents UP2572 and VL3001 were identified as good general combiners for grain yield per plant. In cross combinations, cross PRL/2*PASTOR//PBW343*2/KUKUNA/3/ROLF07/4/BERKUT//… × WH1142 and UP2572 × WH1142 were identified as the best specific combiners for grain yield per plant under irrigated and rainfed conditions, respectively. So, these identified parents and cross combinations can be exploited for developing water stress tolerant cultivars by identifying transgressive segregants in further breeding cycles.