Hybrid performance and heterosis in F1 offspring of triticale (x Triticosecale Wittm.)

In this study, the combined ability effects and heterosis were determined for number of days to anthesis (AT), plant height (PH), fertile tillers plant(-1) (FT), spike length (SL), spikelets spike-1 (SS) and grains spike(-1) (GS), 1000-kernel weight (TW), and grain yield plant(-1) (GY) of 4 triticale genotypes [Karma (G1), Presto (G2), Aysehanim (G3), and Mehmetbey (G4)] and their 6 F-1 offspring. The mean squares of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were statistically significant for all traits. According to the GCA/SCA, additive gene effects were found for all traits. According to the desired values for traits on the basis of GCA and SCA, parents G1 were good general combiners for 3 traits, G3 for 6, and G4 for 6. Crosses G1 x G2 were good specific combiners for 3 traits, G1 x G3 for 3, G1 x G4 for 3, G2 x G3 for 5, G2 x G4 for 6, and G3 x G4 for 4. Heterosis and heterobeltiosis were -16.78% and -25.71% for AT, -1.66% and -11.02% for PH, 34.25% and 9.87% for FT, 14.62% and 11.44% for SL, 8.09% and 3.87% for SS, 4.57% and 0.91% for GS, 9.67% and 6.13% for TW, and 30.36% and 9.11% for GY, respectively. The results revealed that G2 x G3 and G2 x G4 combinations could be recommended for improved yield of triticale.