Abstract

A set of 8×8 diallel cross comprising promising genotypes was studied to analyze the inheritance pattern of yield components in bread wheat. The different yield related traits estimated were spike length, number of spikelets spike^-1, number of grains spike^-1, 1000 grain weight and grain yield plant^-1. The analysis of variance depicted that 56 F₁ and their parents were significantly different for all the parameters. Uniformity of Wr-Vr over arrays as well as significant deviation of regression coefficient (b) from unity confirmed the suitability of additive-dominance model to account for the data analysis. The estimates of genetic component of variation in all the traits exhibited the preponderance of over dominance gene action. The estimates of average degree of dominance for spike length (1.139), 1000 grain weight (1.421), number of spikelets spike^-1 (2.293), number of grains spike^-1 (1.631) and grain yield plant^-1 (1.111) evidenced the prevalence of non additive gene action controlling these traits. The present results, therefore, revealed that selection for these traits in early generation may not be useful and it has to be delayed till segregating generations.