TRANSGRESSION VIS-A-VIS GENETIC DIVERGENCE AND COMBINING ABILITY IN TRIPLE TEST CROSS PROGENY OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)

Abstract

Triple test cross (TIC) pro~enies,resulting from matings between 15 divergent lines and 3 testers, were raised in randomized block design under normal (irrigated) and stress (rainfed) environments. Observations were recorded on tiller number, grains/spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield/plant, and Mahalanobis' D2 values were computed using multivariate analysis. Corn·lations between divergence (-{i)2) and progeny means showed independence of each other in both environments. The frequency as well as the level of transgression and progeny means were cross-specific and independent of -voi values among the parents. TIC design permitted a wholistic approach to select potent crosses based on gene effects, comparative segregational potential and divergence between parents.