HEAT TOLERANCE IN SOME BREAD WHEAT GENOTYPES UNDER TWO SOWING DATES

Abstract

A 7x7 half diallel cross along with their parental wheat cultivars were evaluated under two sowing dates (19th Nov. and 17th Dec.).The results revealed that mean squares due to sowing dates, genotypes and genotypes x sowing dates interaction were significant for most of the studied traits. Delaying sowing date to Dec. reduced all studied characters compared to the normal sowing date except electrolyte leakage which increased by delaying sowing date. Heterosis over better parents showed that, the best hybrids under stress condition were Misr 2 X Giza 168 and Sids 1 X Giza 168 for grain yield / plant and some of other studied traits. General and specific combining ability mean squares indicated the importance of both additive and non-additive gene effects in the inheritance of the studied traits with few exceptions. However, the additive effect was more important than the non-additive effects in the inheritance of days to 50% heading, plant height, No. of spikes/ plant,No. of kernels / spike and 1000-kernel weight while, the non-additive effects were more important than the additive effects in the inheritance of electrolyte leakage and flag leaf area. The best general combiner parents for grain yield / plant and some of other studied traits were Gemmeiza 11 and Giza 168under stress condition. The best hybrids for SCA effects were Sakha 93 X Sids 1, Gemmeiza 11 X Giza 168, Misr 2 X Giza 168 and Sids 1 X Giza 168 under stress condition for grain yield / plant and some of other studied traits. The crosses Gemmeiza 11 X Giza 168 (HSI 0.36), Gemmeiza 7 X Giza 168 (HSI 0.58) and Sakha 93 X Giza 168 (HSI 0.60) have recorded the lowest values of heat susceptibility index (HSI), indicating their tolerance to heat stress (late sowing date).

Keywords

• wheat
• triticum aestivum l
• heat stress
• high temperature
• heterosis
• general and specific combining ability