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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp2 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Genetic analysis of combining ability, heritability and genetic advance for morphological and biochemical traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.12261
Submitted
14 October 2025
Published
14-05-2026

Abstract

A total of 15 genetically diverse wheat genotypes (10 lines and 5 testers) and their fifty F1 hybrids were evaluated for 15 traits under normal conditions at the Agricultural Research Farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology in Kanpur, India. Analysis of variance showed highly significant mean squares for general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA), indicating both additive and non-additive gene actions. Parental genotypes PBW-343, DBW-39, K-402, K-1317, KRL-210 and K-68 exhibited strong GCA effects, identifying them as good general combiners. Significant positive SCA effects for grain yield were observed in hybrids HD-3086 × HD-3171, K-402 × K-9107, K-1317 × K-9107, HD-2967 × K-0307 and K-402 × K-68, indicating the contribution of non-additive genetic effects in these specific cross combinations. In contrast, moderate to high heritability estimates for plant height (77.32 %), biological yield           (59.52 %) and grain yield (68.76 %), together with moderate genetic advance for harvest index (11.72 %) and grain yield (13.15 %), suggest a substantial additive genetic component. Collectively, these findings indicate that both additive and non-additive gene actions influence yield-related traits, supporting the use of integrated breeding approaches that combine heterosis exploitation with selection-based improvement.

 

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