Estimating the Inheritance Patterns of Peduncle length and Spike length in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell.)

Abstract

Estimating the inheritance pattern of peduncle length and spike length in bread wheat is crucial for advancing research in wheat genetics and breeding. To understand this pattern an experiment was conducted using six generations of 4 crosses. This study investigated genetic parameters affecting peduncle and spike length in bread wheat across four families (A, B, C and D) using generation mean analysis. For peduncle length, the additive-dominance model was suitable for Family A, indicating significant dominance effects, while higher-order interactions were present in Families B, C, and D with dominance × dominance and additive × additive effects playing major roles. For spike length, digenic interaction models were appropriate for all families, highlighting significant dominance and dominance × dominance effects. Families A, B, and C showed prevalent duplicate epistasis, suggesting potential transgressive segregants. The findings suggest both additive and non-additive gene actions are crucial, indicating early and later generation selection strategies could be effective in improving these traits. Understanding the genetic variability and underlying genetic architecture of these traits can enhance wheat yield and quality, making them ideal targets for breeding programs aimed at improving productivity.