GENETIC DETERMINATION OF YIELD RELATED ATTRIBUTES IN BREAD WHEAT

The present study was conducted in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi during 2000-2002. Inheritance mechanism was studied in a complete 8x8 diallel involving indigenous wheat varieties. Gene action studies were made on some yield contributing attributes like days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, number of tillers m-2, flag leaf area and grain filling period. The average degree of dominance for days to maturity (2.061), plant height (1.915), flag leaf area (1.679) and grain filling period (1.081) indicated the presence of over dominance gene action controlling these yield attributes. However, for number of tillers m-2 (1.00), the value suggested role of complete dominance governing it. These results revealed that selection for these traits in early generation is difficult. The selection process will have to be delayed till F2 segregating population. Whereas 0.659 value for degree of dominance suggested additive type of gene action for days to heading, proposing the possibility of selection in early generation (F1)