Estimation of Combining Ability in Bread Wheat Using Line X Tester Analysis

The present investigation was undertaken to study the combining ability for yield and its components in F1 generation of wheat through Line × tester analysis. Experiment was conducted with 3 replications and 39 genotypes consisting 9 lines viz., HD 2851, HD 2893, HD 3226, PBW 677, HD 3086, PBW 725, Phule samadhan, Phule unnat, GW 273 and 3 testers viz., Faisalabad 2005, HW 2045, PBW 343 and their 27 crosses made in L × T mating fashion in randomized block design at experimental research farm, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab during 2023-24. The genotypes (parents and crosses) exhibited highly significant variation for all traits studied indicating the presence of genotypic differences among these twelve genotypes under investigation. The mean square of parent vs crosses was found to be highly significant for all traits studied expect 1000 grain weight. Further partitioning of crosses mean squares i.e., Line × tester analysis showed highly significant for all traits studied. Line × tester analysis is used in predicting the effects of the general combining ability of parents and specific ability combining of their crosses The lines PBW 725, GW 273 and tester PBW 343 exhibited significant GCA for grain yield. The lines PBW 725, HD 2893 and Phule unnat which performed good combining ability effects for biological yield per plant were also good combiners. Among the cross combination PBW 725 × PBW 343 showed significant positive SCA for grain yield and biological yield per plant, whereas, PBW 725 × Faisalabad 2005, HD 2893 × HW 2045 and GW 273 × PBW 343 was a good specific combiner for 1000 grain weight.