HETEROSIS IN F₁ HYBRIDS BETWEEN SPRING AND WINTER WHEATS

Abstract

Significant levels of heterosis were demonstrated in F 1 yield trials from crosses between three spring and three winter wheats (T. aestivum L.): Thatcher × Winalta, Cypress × Kharkov 22 MC, and Lee × Cheyenne. Yields up to 40% higher than those of the spring wheat parent were attributed to heterosis resulting from hybridization of genetically diverse spring and winter types. To our knowledge this is the first published report of heterosis for yield in F 1 hybrids between spring and winter wheat cultivars. This information has significance in both hybrid wheat and conventional breeding programs.