Breeding for some Agronomic and Quality Characters in Bread Wheat

Abstract

To improve agronomic and quality in bread wheat, this experiment was performed in 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Egypt to study performance of ten bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes (Giza 171, Sakha 95, Gemmeiza 12, Shandweel 1, Sids 12, Sids 14, Misr 3, Line 1, Line 2 and Line 3) and their forty-five F1 crosses were evaluated for sixteen agronomic and grain quality characters. The mean squares for genotypes, parents, crosses, parents vs. crosses, general and specific combining ability were significant for most studied characters. The ratio of general and specific combining ability was more than unity for all characters and both additive and non-additive gene effects were important in controlling the studied characters with more importance for additive effects. The best performance was detected in Sakha 95, Sids 14 and Shandweel 1 for grain yield plant-1, all parents except for Sids 12 and Giza 171 and Shandweel 1 for yellow rust, Line 1 for stem rust and Gemmeiza 12 and Sids 12 for dry gluten. The best combiners were Sakha 95, Sids 14, Giza 171 and Misr 3 for grain yield plant-1 and Giza 171, Sakha 95, Gemmeiza 12 and Shandweel 1 for wet and dry gluten. Grain yield plant-1 had positive significant correlation with grain filling rate, plant height, number of spikes plant-1 and kernel weight. The correlation of dry gluten was significant and positive with wet gluten and negative with hydration capacity percentage. Path coefficient analysis showed that the highest positive direct effect on grain yield plant-1 was obtained by grain filling period, wet gluten, days to maturity and days to heading. On the other hand, the highest negative direct effect was detected by dry gluten, hydration capacity percentage and days to anthesis. The highest positive direct effect on dry gluten was obtained by wet gluten, grain filling rate and days to maturity. Meanwhile, the highest negative direct effect on dry gluten was obtained by grain yield plant-1, hydration capacity percentage and days to anthesis. Using stepwise regression, days to heading, grain filling period and rate, kernel weight, yellow rust resistance and electrical conductivity had justified the maximum of grain yield plant-1 changes. Number of kernels spike-1, wet gluten and hydration capacity percentage had justified the maximum of dry gluten changes. Giza 171 × Misr 3, Line 1 × Line 3, Sids 12 × Misr 3, Giza 171 × Line 2, Sakha 95 × Shandweel 1, Sakha 95 × Gemmeiza 12 and Shandweel 1 × Misr 3 crosses had high yield potentiality and resistance to yellow rust and moderately susceptible to stem rust, consequently these crosses will be favorable in wheat breeding programs. Sakha 95 × Gemmeiza 12 and Sids 12 × Misr 3 were the best crosses for dry gluten and will be promising in breeding for wheat grain quality.