Inheritance of spike length in F3, F4 and F5 wheat hybrids obtained by different selection methods

This study analyses the mode of inheritance of spike length in F3, F4 and F5 wheat hybrids obtained by pedigree, bulk and modified pedigree method of selection. Wheat hybrids were produced after crossing five varieties by M x N method. Three varieties were used as a female parent (Briscard, Carifen 12 and Rescler) and two as a male component (Francuska and PKB-Prelivka). Descendents in F2 generation were produced from 6 F1 hybrids (3 x 2). Selection after F2 generation were undertaken from 1996 to 1999, while in 2000 the field experiments with complete breeding material were set up at the Institute 'PKB INI Agroekonomik' in Padinska Skela near Belgrade. Spike length was measured in progeny generations, from F3 to F5. It was observed that progenies had higher values for spike length than better parent (BP, with longer spikes) in 5 out of 6 analyzed hybrids: Briscard x PKB-Prelivka, Carifen 12 x Francuska, Carifen 12 x PKB-Prelivka, Rescler x Francuska, and Rescler x PKB-Prelivka. From the above mentioned hybrid combinations, only Rescler x Francuska descendents in F5 generation obtained by pedigree and bulk selection inherited the spike length from the parent with lower value. High significant interaction was observed for spike length between genotype and generation of progenies in each of the applied selection methods.