Heterosis and Combining Ability in Southern Soft Red Winter Wheats¹

Abstract

Six southern soft red winter wheats ( Triticum aestivum ), ‘Andnox,’ ‘Bledsoe,’ ‘Blueboy,’ ‘Coker 67‐14,’ ‘Ga 1123,’ and ‘Hadden,’ were crossed in diallel fashion. The objective of this study was to determine the potential of these soft red winter wheats in hybrid combinations for possible commercial hybrids. The best combiners in this group might possibly be the best parents for further testing of other hybrids. Three F 1 hybrids yielded significantly higher than the better parent of each respective cross. Heterosis levels exceeded 25% for grain yield, all F l ′s averaged 6, 5, 5, and 17% above the average parent values for number of spikes, kernel weight, kernels per spike, and grain yield, respectively. General combining ability was the major component of variation. All grain quality characters were slightly improved in the F 1 hybrid. Blueboy was the best general combiner in this group of parents.