Heterotic performance of quality characteristics of bread wheat cultivars

Abstract

Heterosis has made a significant contribution to the improvement of many crops regarding yield, quality and resistance to pests. The low wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) productivity in Lesotho has necessitated exploitation of heterosis in commercial cultivars. Heterotic performance of 38 F1 and F2 progenies from 5 x 5 diallel crosses of wheat cultivars were estimated for mid-parent and best-parent values. There were significant differences between F1 and F2 progenies for all characteristics. In F1 progeny, a positive mid-parent heterosis was observed in Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) sedimentation volume, kernel hardness, break flour yield and kernel weight. Positive best-parent heterosis was obtained in all the above parameters. In F2 progeny, characteristics that showed positive mid-parent heterosis were mixograph development time, hardness index and SDS sedimentation volume; while positive best-parent heterosis was observed in mixograph development time, hardness index, kernel diameter and weight. A significant increase in mid-parent heterosis was observed for five characteristics in Sceptre x Wanda and SST124 x Nata. Another significant increase in mid-parent heterosis occurred for four characteristics in Nata x Wanda, Nata x Sceptre, Sceptre x Kariega, Sceptre x SST 124, Wanda x SST 124 and Sceptre x Nata. SST 124 x Sceptre, Nata x Wanda, SST 124 x Kariega and Kariega x Nata revealed a significant increase in best-parent heterosis for all characteristics. Keywords: Best-parent heterosis, Triticum aestivum African Crop Science Journal , Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 283 - 289