Estimates of general and specific combining ability for the important traits in crosses of winter and spring wheats(triticum aestivum L.em thell)

The estimates of general and specific combining ability effects for the important characters in winter and spring wheat crosses were compared to provide breeders with information regarding which parental combination to hybridize in order to obtain the highest probability of obtaining desired segregates. Based on individual combining ability effects, the winter × spring cross Yamhill × Siete Cerros would appear to provide the highest proportion of desired segregates when combining earliness and acceptable yield. The estimates of general and specific combining ability provided important evidence in terms of the nature of gene action. Both additive and non additive gene action were present for all traits, the relative magnitudes depending on the specific trait.