Evaluation of Heterosis and Inbreeding Depression for Seed Yield and Associated Traits in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most important cereal crop and a good source of global food security. With rising population demands, hybrid breeding offers an effective strategy to enhance productivity. The present investigation was carried out at Nawabganj Farm, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur during Rabi 2023–24 and 2024–25, comprising 157 treatments (21 parents, 68 F1s, and 68 F2s). Heterosis and inbreeding depression were studied for 16 yield and its contributing traits. Significant positive heterosis was observed for seed yield in crosses such as DBW-107 × DBW-278 (52.04% heterobeltiosis and 19.62% standard heterosis), HD-3440 × DBW-278 (47.27% heterobeltiosis and 15.87% standard heterosis), and HD-3171 × K-9423 (46.89% heterobeltiosis and 15.09% standard heterosis). The cross, PBW-833 × DBW-278 (91.03% heterobeltiosis and 52.66%** standard heterosis) exhibited maximum heterosis for productive tillers, while DBW-308 × K-1006 (40.76% heterobeltiosis and 42.65% standard heterosis) and PBW-833 × K-9423 (52.05% heterobeltiosis and 39.22% standard heterosis) excelled for flag leaf area. For canopy temperature depression, PBW-902 × K-1006 (66.11%** heterobeltiosis and 91.29% standard heterosis), whereas HI-1654 × K-9423 (11.15% heterobeltiosis and 10.27% standard heterosis) and DBW-342 × K-9423 (13.63% heterobeltiosis and 10.27% standard heterosis) were found superior for protein content. These promising crosses can be used in hybrid breeding and or isolation of desirable segregants to improving nutritional quality, productivity and providing a solid basis for wheat development initiatives.