HETEROSIS AND COMBINING ABILITY ESTIMATES IN 6 X 6 HALF-DIALLEL CROSSES OF DURUM WHEAT (TRITICUM DURUM DESF.)

In the study, the heterosis percentages and combining ability effects were determined for heading time (HT), thousand kernels weight (TKW) and plant yield (PY) of 6 durum wheat parents and their 15 half-diallel crosses. Two local populations (Beyaziye and Bagacak) and four cultivars (Kunduru 1149, Cakmak-79, Diyarbakir-81 and Duraking) of durum wheats were used as parents in the study. Heterosis percentages for high-parent and mid-parent were -2.16% and -0.74% for heading date; -1.64% and 3.78% for 1000 kernel weight; -2.24% and 5.24% for plant yield, respectively. The highest heterosis percentage for mid-parent was determined at the hybrids of 'Kunduru 1149 x Diyarbakir81' (1.10%) for heading date; 'Kunduru 1149 x Cakmak 79' (12.86%) for 1000 kernel weight; 'Beyaziye x Duraking' (37.67%) combination for plant yield. The general combining ability(GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) components of variance were significant for three traits studied. The levels of heterosis and general and specific combining abilities of parental lines were sufficient to sustainable production of hybrid breeding and early selection of breeding lines.