Document Type : Research articles.
Authors
1
Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum 63514, Egypt
2
Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, 63514-Fayoum, Egypt
Abstract
Improving grain yield and quality traits under low nitrogen (N) supply is a desirable goal for wheat breeders. Thus, genetic parameters in wheat crosses and use them in breeding programs under contrasting N environments were estimated during the 2020/21, 2021/22, and 2022/23 growing seasons at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University. A total of 36 wheat genotypes consisting of six parents, fifteen F1, and fifteen F2 progeny generations were grown in two adjacent experiments, (i.e., low level (50 kg N/feddan) represents the 1st environment; E1 and recommended level (75 kg N/feddan) represent the 2nd environment; E2. Each experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Information on combining ability effects were estimated for physiological and grain yield and its components. The genetic analysis was performed using Griffing Method 2 and Model 1. The results revealed that mean squares due to N levels, genotypes, and genotypes × N interactions were significant for almost all studied traits. This indicates that variability that existed among these genotypes seems to provide a chance for the appearance of good new combinations that can be isolated in the following generations. The mean squares of general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability were significant for almost all studied traits, indicating that additive and non-additive gene action are important to inheritance for these traits. The crosses Sakha 94 × Sakha 95, Sakha 94 × Giza171, Sakha 94 × Sids 14, Sakha 94 × Misr 1, Sakha 95 × Misr 1, Sakha 95 × Misr 3, Giza 171 × Misr 1, Sids 14 × Misr 1 and Misr 1 × Misr 3 had favorable SCA effects and had high mean performance for grain yield/plant and some of the other traits. The best general combiner’s parents were Sakha 94, Giza 171, Sids 14, Misr 1, and Misr 3, who possessed high GCA effects for grain yield/plant and some of the other studied traits. It could be concluded that the use of a low nitrogen fertilizer level (50 Kg N/feddan); can minimize the chemical nitrogen and proved to be the best way to save about 30% of the chemical and avoid undesirable effects, then reduce the cost of production and pollution that could be accrued by the excessive use of chemical fertilizer.
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