Genetic Analysis of Line × Tester Crosses of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for Combining Ability Variances and Effect

This research intended to estimate the combining ability (GCA and SCA) and gene action among 10 female and 4 male wheat genotypes and their 40 F1 hybrids, using a line × tester mating design. The experiment was conducted in RBD with three replications at Baba Raghubar Das Post Graduate College during the 2021-2022 rabi season. The study assessed key agronomic traits, including plant height, days to flowering, biological yield, and grain yield. The analysis of variance for almost all the traits under varied significantly and indicating that both additive and non-additive genetic effects is present. GCA effects showed AAIDUWL-5 and AAIDUWL-7 as top combiners for yield-related traits, while SCA effects indicated promising hybrid combinations like AAIDUWL-9 × AAIDUWL-13 for grain yield. These results provide insights for the strategic selection of parents and hybrids to enhance wheat breeding programs.