Analysis of diallel crosses between six varieties of durum wheat in semi-arid area

Abstract

The study of morphological genetic determinism characteristics and production of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) through the use of a diallel cross between six varieties, including two Algerian genotypes and four French genotypes was conducted in semi-arid high area of Chellif, Algeria. The analysis of variance for general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) abilities and reciprocal effects were carried out according to the method of griffing. The results show a preponderance of additive effect for characters: length of the straw, thousand kernel weights and the number of grains per spike. An interesting relation was found for the three characters, between the effect parental heterosis (HI) and parental values (VI). Hybrids Ardente/Nefer, Nefer/Ardente and Ardente/Guem Goum Erkham showed a significant heterosis of 51 to 76% compared to their parents. A negative heterosis of the length of straw was found in crosses: Hedba3/Excalibur: -14%; Guem Goum Erkham/Excalibur: -18%; NE/H3: -19%; Excalibur/Accent: -24%; Hedba3/Guem Goum Erkham -32%. The additivity had a considerable influence on the expression of straw length, number of grains per spike and had also a lesser extent for the thousand grain weight. The preponderance of additive effect in the functioning of the genetic variability of straw length and thousand grain weights was confirmed in F2. Positive relations between parent heterosis, parental values and high ratios of GCA/SCA help in the selection of these crosses.

Keywords: Diallel cross, durum wheat, heterosis, genetics, general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA)

African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(2), pp. 286-293, 8 January, 2014