Heterosis, inbreeding depression and combining abilities in a five-parent diallel of six-row barley

Abstract

SummaryThe F1 and F2 generations of a diallel cross of six-row barley involving the parents, Beecher, Athenais, Atlas 46, 3130-4564-3, and 3130-864-4 were studied and heterosis, inbreeding depression, and combining abilities were measured for grain yield, number of tillers per plant, number of kernels per plant, kernel weight, and plant height. Significant heterosis was detected for grain yield in two of the ten crosses, for number of tillers per plant in one cross, for number of kernels per plant in two crosses, for plant height in three crosses, and for kernel weight in none of the crosses. The inbreeding depression of the F2 generation was present in most cases but significantly so in a few. Atlas 46 x 3130-4564-3 exhibited inbreeding depression for grain yield, number of kernels per plant, and plant height.The general combining ability (GCA) mean squares of both generations were significant for all characters studied except number of kernels per plant in the F1 generation. The specific combining ability (SCA) mean squares were significant for only plant height in the F1 generation and all characters studied except number of tillers per plant in the F2 generation.The GCA effects indicated that Beecher and Athenais are good general combiners for grain yield and its components. The latter parent produced good yielding hybrids with slightly shorter plants than the remaining hybrids.The SCA effects revealed that Athenais × 3130-4564-3, Athenais × 3130-864-4, and Beecher × Atlas 46 seem good specific combinations for high grain yield. Also, the former two crosses tend to produce shorter plants.