Evaluation of Heterosis and Heterobeltiosis for Spike-Related Traits in F1 and F2 Populations of Hexaploid Bread Wheat

The study aimed to evaluate the heterosis and heterobeltiosis of F1 and F2 bread wheat populations, comprising twenty crosses for spike characters during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 cropping seasons in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In the research spike length, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, grain weight per spike, and grain yield were investigated. Results revealed that genotypes (parents, F1 and F2 populations) were differed significantly (P≤0.01) for all studied traits. Genotypes in both F1 and F2 populations demonstrated higher averages compared to the parents across the investigated traits. In the F1 population, the maximum heterosis and heterobelthiosis were recorded at Köprü/Glosa and Ginra/Lucilla (30.88 and 29.92 %) for spike length, Krasunia odeska/Rumeli (25.96 and 19.60 %) for number of spikelets per spike, Köprü/Glosa and Krasunia odeska/Glosa (66.76 and 62.83 %) for grain number per spike, Krasunia odeska/Glosa and Krasunia odeska/Rumeli (85.97 and 52.57 %) for grain weight per spike and Rumeli/Lucilla and Krasunia odeska/Glosa (108.54 and 100.96 %) for grain yield respectively. The highest heterosis and heterobeltiosis values were recorded in the F2 population; Ginra/Lucilla (15.15 and 14.20 %) for spike length, Krasunia odeska/Aslı (30.99 and 26.55 %) for spikelet numbers per spike, Glosa/Aslı (47.76 and 45.29 %) for grain number per spike, Glosa/Aslı and Krasunia odeska/Rumeli (35.16 % and 28.28 %) for grain weight per spike and Krasunia odeska/Rumeli and Rumeli/Lucilla (87.43 and 80.58 %) for grain yield respectively. These crosses could be further utilized in breeding programs to obtain superior individuals in advanced generations, enriching spike-related traits.