Estimation of Genetic Parameters of Morphological Traits in Rainfed Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) using Diallel Method

To estimate the genetic components and the mode of inheritance for some morphological traits, six rainfed durum wheat genotypes (Chehel daneh, Gerdish, Zardak, Syrian-1, Waha and Knd1149//68/ward) and their complete diallel progenies were grown in a randomized complete blocks design with two replications in 2005-06 cropping season in Maragheh Dryland Agricultural Research Station. Results of diallel analysis revealed that additive variance were important for inheritance of grain yield, number of grain per spike, spike length and number of fertile tiller than dominance variance. The positive value of ‘F’, indicated that there were excess of dominant alleles in comparison to recessive ones in the parents for all of the studied traits. The average degree of dominance (H1/D) 0.5 showed partial dominance for grain yield, number of grain per spike, spike length, 100 grains weight and number of fertile tiller and over-dominance for peduncle length. Graphic analysis indicated that increase of grain yield, number of grain per spike, spike length, 100 grains weight and number of fertile tiller were under the control of combination of recessive and dominance alleles. Predominance of additive effects for grain yield demonstrated that breeding methods based on selection may be advantageous in improving of this trait. The highest value of this trait relevant to Gerdish (10.33 g/plant), therefore this genotype can be used as cross parent in breeding programs for receiving to lines with high yield and yield components. The cross of Waha × Knd1149//68/ward with high value of GY and GCA for this trait can be used as a suitable cross for hybrid production.