Genetic analysis of some yield related traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under normal and saline condition

Wheat is important cereal crop and its yield is adversely affected by saline water irrigation. To study the genetic effects under saline conditions 5 lines and 3 testers were crossed in line x tester fashion. Fifteen hybrids along with 8 parents were planted in saline water irrigation (10 dS/m, 15 -dS/m) as well as in control condition. Experiment was conducted in experimental field of Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during 2015-16. The mean square showed highly significant difference among genotypes for the traits studied. The mean squares from pooled ANOVA for genotype x treatment interaction were also highly significant for all the traits under study expect flag leaf area. Highest reduction due to saline water irrigation was noticed in spikelets per spike followed by yield per plant, number of tillers per plant, spike length, days to heading, days to maturity, flag leaf area and 1000-grain weight. The line 9505 and cross 9505 x Anmol-1991 showed minimum yield reduction under irrigation treatment as compared to control. The line 9877, 9444 and tester Anmol-1991 proved to be best general combiners for grain yield under control and saline treatments. The crosses 9505 x Galaxy-2013, 9877 x Anmol-1991, 9877 x Menthar-2003, 9585 x Anmol-1991 and 9408 x Galaxy-2013 showed positive SCA effects under both control and saline water irrigation treatments for grain yield per plant. Highest heterotic effects under normal and saline treatments were observed for grain yield per plant, followed by number of grains per spike, number of tillers per plant, spike length, 1000-grain weight and spikelets per spike, while lowest heterotic effects were observed for days to heading followed by days to maturity and flag leaf area. Results showed that parents 9877, 9444 and Galaxy-2013 and among crosses, 9408 x Galaxy-2013, 9444 x Anmol-1991, 9444 x Menthar-2003 and 9408 x Menthar-2003 had lower stress susceptibility indices and higher stress tolerance indices and gave better yield as compared to other crosses under saline treatments. These parents and crosses could be utilized to incorporate salinity tolerance in wheat genotypes.