Improving the efficiency of wheat breeding experiments using alpha lattice design over randomised complete block design

Abstract

Wheat breeders frequently evaluate large numbers of germplasm and segregating populations for selection in field trials. For testing large number of germplasms under complete block design not much suitable because their assumption to accommodate all the treatment combination in each block that increase the size of experiment and reduce the accuracy. To avoid this constraint the present experiment was designed with objective to realise the suitability of alpha lattice design (ALD) over randomised complete block design (RCBD) in plant breeding experiments. The present experiment was conducted in ALD of 8 × 20 i.e. eight blocks each with 20 genotypes in two replications under rainfed and restricted irrigated conditions to estimate the drought tolerance indices. Nine drought tolerance indices were estimated using the data of rainfed and restricted irrigated conditions. These drought tolerance indices were subjected to analysis of variances of both the designs ALD and RCBD to know the efficiency of ALD over RCBD. The relative efficiency of trials shows that ALD was more efficient than RCB design. Based on grain yield per plant under both the conditions twenty-one tolerant genotypes and eleven susceptible genotypes were identified. Identified tolerant and susceptible genotypes can be used for development of mapping populations and for QTLs mapping programme for drought tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).