Inheritance ot tillers-per-plant in durum wheat (Triticum durum Dest.)

Abstract

Gene effects were analyzed using means of number of tlllers-per-plant of 12 generations vIz., both parents, Fl' F2, first backcross generations (BCI and BC2) second backcross generations (BCII , BCI2, BC21 and BC22) along with BCIS and BC2s derived by selfing of BCI and BC2 populations of three crosses Involving six diverse cultlvars of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). To determine the nature of gene actions governing number of tillers-perplant, generation mean analysis was used under normal and late sown 'environments. The ten-parameter model was adequate In ail the cases except in the cross Cocorit 71 x A-9-30-1 under late sown condition where the 3 parameter model was adequate. Epistatic effects, particularly trigenic types were predominant over additive and dominance effects under both normal and late sown environments. Duplicate epistasis was observed In two crosses under normal sown environment. Epistatic interactions particularly non-fixable types were the contributors to the significant and positive heterosis.