Diallel analysis of grain quality traits in inbred winter rye lines

The results of a diallel analysis of five inbred winter rye lines for grain quality traits (grain test weight, falling number, protein content, water extract viscosity, hearth bread form ratio, and pan loaf volume) are given. For all traits except bread volume, F1 hybrids displayed hypothetical heterosis. A substantial contribution to genotypic variance was made both by general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability; however, the proportion of dominance effects was 1.7–3.5 times higher than direct additive effects. The high potential of the grain test weight, falling number, water extract viscosity, hearth bread form ratio, and loaf volume traits determined the effects of dominant genes, and the protein content, the effects of recessive genes. Lines with high GCA estimates for individual traits (H-649, H-451, H-842, and H-1078) were identified. The importance of breeding inbred lines for combinability of high falling number and higher water extract viscosity traits is shown. The possibility of predicting the combining ability on the basis of the value of quality traits in inbred lines per se is concluded.