EVIDENCE OF CLIMATE RESILIENT HYBRID DEVELOPMENT IN WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) FOR FOOD SECURITY

Wheat is one of the most imperative crops among the entire cereal crops due to its nutritive and economical worth. The increase in human population and the decrease in agricultural land are the main challenges for food security. Hybrid production in different crops had double the average yield e.g. maize and rice. A study conducted to check the potential of hybrid production in wheat. Seven female and five male wheat genotypes were crossed in Line × Tester mating design. The F1 hybrids planted in split plot design in normal irrigation and water deficit. The water withholds at tillering stage and anthesis stage. Results indicated that for grain yield per plant hybrid 9860×9521 showed maximum heterosis (221%). The hybrid Chakwal 86×9521 had maximum heterosis (101.31%) in control moisture for grain yield per plant. The hybrids were authenticated using SSR markers. Out of twelve SSR primers, only three markers WMS413, WMS295 and WMS582 indicated dominant loci in parents and codominant loci in hybrids. The proportional contribution indicated that in all relevant attributes, hybrids contributed more than the parents do in total variance. Plant height, number of tillers per plant and grain yield per plant had a high potence ratio indicating dominant type of gene action. Flag leaf area, spike length and 1000-grain weight had an additive type of gene action in both normal and control irrigation. The heritability analysis indicated the decrease in value of heritability under control irrigation in all traits.