Tissue culture as an alternative for commercial corm production in saffron: A heritage crop of Kashmir

The present study aimed at developing a commercially viable protocol for in vitro corm production in saffron. Three-step sterilization process involving fungicides and sterilants ensured 94% clean viable cultures. Plant growth regulator (PGRs) ensuring initial bud sprouting, direct shoot regeneration from the base of the sprouted bud and cormlet production from multiple shoots have been standardized. MS Media supplemented with 0.5 mg/l naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 1.5 mg/l 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) ensured maximum bud sprouting in September with direct multiple shoot primordia initiation on 6.5 mg/l BAP in November. 6.5 mg/l BAP + 0.2 mg/l NAA resulted in maximum shoot proliferation (24); however, at higher concentration, the PGRs were detrimental in arresting the growth. Viable shoot clumps established maximum in vitro corms in April after sub culturing on growth retardant (CCC) at 0.25% supplemented with 9% sucrose. Subculturing of non flowering in vitro corms on growth retardant with sucrose eliminated season dependence of in vitro protocols in the 2nd cycle of protocol. Primary and secondary hardening before field transfer ensured 100% corm viability.Keywords: Kashmir, corm, in vitro, saffron.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(25), pp. 3940-394

Character association in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) | Asociación entre caracteres en pimentón (Capsicum annuum L.)

The present investigation was carried out in 2007-08 using 25 chilli genotypes to elucidate the association of various yield attributing traits to develop a reliable set of traits for indirect selection. The data were observed from five randomly selected competitive plants from each replication for eight quantitative traits. The genotypic coefficients were higher in the magnitudes relative to corresponding estimates of phenotypic coefficients, which indicated high heritability of the traits under study. The fruits yield/plant exhibited highly significant correlation with number of fruits/plant, number of branches/plant and height of the plant, indicating the usefulness of these traits for improving upon fruit yield in chilli. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the highest direct effect on fruit yield/plant was exerted by average fruit weight followed by number of fruits/plant, number of branches/plant and plant spread, while as highest indirect effect on fruit yield/plant was exerted by number of branches/plant through number of fruits/plant, fruit length and fruit breadth through average fruit weight and plant height through number of fruits/plant. These traits can be used to develop an optimally reliable selection index for realizing improvements in fruit yield in chilli.Key words: Chilli, character association, correlation, path analysisRESUMENLa presente investigación se llevó a cabo en 2007-2008 utilizando 25 genotipos de pimentón para dilucidar la asociación de diversos componentes del rendimiento para desarrollar un conjunto confiable de caracteres para la selección indirecta. Los datos se observaron en cinco plantas bajo competencia y seleccionadas al azar de cada replicación para ocho caracteres cuantitativos. Los coeficientes genotípicos fueron mayores en magnitud relativa en comparación con las estimaciones del coeficiente fenotípico, lo cual indica una alta heredabilidad de los caracteres bajo estudio. El rendimiento de frutos/plantaexhibió una correlación altamente significativa con el número de frutos/planta, número de reamas/planta y altura, indicando la utilidad de estos caracteres para mejorar el rendimiento de frutos en pimentón. El análisis de los coeficientes detrayectoria reveló que el mayor efecto directo sobre el rendimiento de frutos/planta fue ejercido por el peso promedio del fruto seguido por el número de frutos/planta, número de reamas/planta y el dosel de la planta, mientras, mientras que los mayores efectos indirectos sobre el rendimiento de frutos/planta fue ejercido por el número de ramas/planta a través delnúmero de frutos/planta, longitud del fruto y ancho del fruto a través del peso promedio del fruto y la altura de la planta a través del número de frutos/planta. Estos caracteres pueden ser usados para desarrollar un índice de selección óptimamente confiable para realizar mejoras en el rendimiento de frutos en pimentón.Palabras clave: Pimentón, asociación de caracteres, correlación, análisis de trayectori

Effects of foliar application of melatonin on gas exchange and certain biochemical characteristics broccoli cv. Palam Samridhi

Considering the rich nutritional status and possibility of broccoli in improving the profitable yield, and wide role of Mel in regulating the plant physiological process, an investigation was carried out at the division of Basic Sciences and Humanities during 2017 to investigate the effect of foliar application of Mel on leaf photosynthetic and biochemical attributes broccoli. Thirty days old and uniform seedlings of broccoli cv. Palam Samridhi were transplanted in the field at a spacing of 45 × 45cm. Different concentrations of Mel, viz. 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 ppm were sprayed on the plant foliage at 15 days after transplanting (DAT) replicating each treatment four times. Leaf gas exchange and biochemical attributes were tested following the standard procedures. The Results showed the lowest stipulated rate of photosynthesis (10.87 µmole.m-2.sec-1), stomatal conductance (301.44 mole H2O.m-2ses-1) and leaf transpiration (1. 14 mole H2O.m-2ses-1) in untreated plants.  Different doses of Mel significantly increased the values of these attributes and the highest values of photosynthesis (18.63 µmole.m-2.sec-1), stomatal conductance (324.37 mmole.m-2.ses-1) and leaf transpiration (3.23 mmole.m-2.ses-1) with Mel 60 ppm were recorded. The alterations in different biochemical attributes were also evident due to foliar application of Mel and maximum leaf sugar (77.0 and 85.9µg/g), protein (56.9 and 77.3 µg/g), total phenols (260.1 and 339.9 mg/100g), antioxidants (142.8 and 159.9 mg GAE /100g DW) and MSI (94.89 and 97.43 percent) values with Mel 60ppm at 30 and 60DAT, respectively. Therefore, the present study signifies the useful effects of Mel in regulating the physio-biochemical properties of broccoli

Review article: Quality protein maize (QPM): Genetic

Cereals are the only source of nutrition for one-third of the world’s population especially in developing and underdeveloped nations of Sub-Saharan Africa and South-east Asia. The three major cereals, rice, wheat and maize constitute about 85% of total global cereals production amounting to about 200 million tonnes of protein harvest annually at an average of 10% protein content, out of which a sizeable proportion goes into human consumption (Shewry, 2007). A major concern in case of developing nations is that in most cases, a single cereals crop is the major food staple and as such the nutritional profile of cereal crops assumes great significance. Grain protein content of cereals has a very narrow range with rice (5.8-7.7%), maize (9-11%), barley (8-15%) and wheat (7-22%) as reported by various workers. In many developing countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia, maize is the major staple food and often the only source of protein. At global level, maize accounts for 15% of proteins and 20% of calories in world food diet. But unfortunately, the nutritional profile of maize is poor as it is deficient in essential amino acids such as lysine, tryptophan and methionine due to a relatively higher proportion of prolamines in maize storage proteins which are essentially devoid of lysine and tryptophan. The reason concerning this is that lysine, tryptophan and threonine are the limiting amino acids in human beings and non-ruminants. Maize is also an important component of livestock feed especially in developed nations where 78% of total maize production goes into livestock feed. Therefore, breeding strategies aimed at improving the protein profile of maize will go a long way in reducing prevalence and persistence of malnutrition in developing world

Molecular Characterization and Evaluation of Genetic Relationship in Temperate Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Germplasm

Nature and magnitude of genetic variability, genetic diversity (D2 statistic) at the phenotypic level and genetic distance (GD) at the molecular level (using SSR primers) was estimated in 116 rice genotypes (42 landraces and 74 cultivars) of Kashmir valley. These rice cultivars/landraces were grown in replicated trial during the kharif season of 2008 and 2009 at the Experimental Farm of the Division of Plant Breeding and Genetics, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar. Morphological traits viz. leaf blade colour, collar colour, auricle colour, ligule colour, flag leaf angle, panicle type, awning pattern, palea and lemme pubescence, seed coat colour and panicle threshability was characterised using standard procedure of IRRI on the basis of scales (scores 0 to 9). Leaf blade colour and collar colour was predominantly green in more than 80.0 per cent genotypes, while auricle colour, ligule colour and seed coat colour was desirable in most of the genotypes (54 to 90%). Flag leaf angle was erect/intermediate in nearly 60 per cent genotypes. Panicle type was compact/intermediate in nearly 85 per cent population with its threshability as intermediate to easy in about 77 per cent. Estimates of coefficient of variation (phenotypic and genotypic) was moderate (10-30%) for plant height, panicle length, 100-grain weight, days to 50 per cent flowering, grain length and its width and leaf length. It was high (>30%) for leaf width, tillers plant-1 and grain yield (q ha-1). Heritability estimates (broad sense) were high (>60%) for all the 10 quantitative traits studied. Expected genetic gain (% of the mean) was high (>30%) for all the traits except plant height and leaf length (data pooled over years). Genetic diversity at the phenotypic level, based on 10 quantitative traits, revealed presence of significant diversity (Wilk’s test) among the genotypes. A total of 19 clusters were formed with 26 genotypes in cluster-1; 10 (cluster-2); 36 (cluster-3), 23 (cluter-5) and 7 (cluster-13). Remaining clusters had one genotype each. Majority of landraces got grouped in the cluster-3, while few like Zager, Meer zag, Hapat China, Prene never and Rehman Batt-1 formed single genotype clusters. SKAU-105 also formed a single genotype cluster. Most of the genotypes for cold and short duration agro-ecosystem got grouped in the cluster-1 while most of the released high yielding varieties for valley basin agro-ecosystem got grouped in the cluster-2. Maximum inter-cluster distance (D2) of 35201.15 was observed between the single genotypes clusters viz. cluster-14 (Prene never) and cluster-17 (SKAU-105) followed by D2 value of 33363.13 between the cluster-II (Hapat China) and cluster-17 (SKAU-105). Intra-cluster distance was maximum (2653.36) in the cluster-13. Highest contribution towards total divergence in the present set of genotypes came from grain yield (55.85%), days to 50 per cent flowering (19.66%) and plant height (13.18%), contributing a total of 88.7 per cent diversity. Preliminary screening of these cultivars/landraces for their kernel aroma on cooking revealed that majority (71.6%) had no aroma, 25.0 per cent were having slight aroma while 4 landraces viz. Tilazag, Mushka budji, Larbeol and Kamad had presence of good kernel aroma on cooking. Screening of the genotypes for their field reaction to brown spot (Cochlio bolus miyabeanus) and blast (Magnaporthe grisea) at seedling and tillering stages of growth revealed that 73.3 per cent showed moderate to high resistance against brown spot at the seedling stage and 75.86 per cent at the tillering stage. Similarly, the blast disease revealed that 90.52 per cent genotypes had moderate to high resistance at the seedling stage, while at the tillering stage it was only 65.52 per cent. For the molecular characterisation 42 genotypes (21 landraces and 21 cultivars) from amongst the 116 genotypes were studied. Nine SSR primers were used, which identified a total of 62 alleles across these genotypes with a range of 2 - 11 alleles per locus and a mean of 6.89 alleles per locus. The PIC values, measuring allelic diversity and polymorphism ranged from 0.490 (RM2592) on chromosome-1 to 0.806 (RM585) on the chromosome-6, with a mean PIC value of 0.719 per locus. Similarity coefficients (measuring relatedness) were used to construct the dendogram and clustering pattern. Pairwise similarity coefficients ranged from 0.10 to 0.89, with the average similarity coefficient around 0.40. the wide range and lower mean. Similarity coefficient value revealed presence of good genetic diversity among these genotypes at the molecular level. Clustering pattern revealed grouping of these genotypes into 5 clusters. All the landraces got grouped into 2 clusters viz. cluster-I (13) and cluster-II (7) except Rehman Batt-1 which got grouped in the cluster which mostly contained genotypes for higher altitude conditions. High yielding varieties for valley basin conditions formed cluster-V (5 cultivars), while cluster-III contained mostly pre-release exotic varieties. Dendogram revealed formation of 2 major groups with all the landraces except Rehman Batt-1 in the group-I and remaining cultivars with exotic genetic background in the group - II

Genetic studies in brown sarson (Brassica rapa L.)

The present investigation on brown sarson (Brassica rapa L.) was carried out to generate information on genetic variability, degree of interrelationship and combining ability (general and specific), nature and magnitude of gene effects and heterosis for yield of 11 morpho-agronomic and quality traits. The experimental material comprised of a diallel set involving 10 diverse lines excluding reciprocals. Significant variability and GxE interaction was observed for all the traits indicating that the behaviour of parents and crosses was not similar in the random set of environments. The experimental material was evaluated in a randomized complete block design with two replications over two locations namely Regional Rice and Research Station, Khudwani (E1) and Experimental Farm, Division of Plant Breeding & Genetics, Shalimar (E2) of SKUAST-K during rabi 2008-09. The data was recorded on days to 50% flowering, plant height (cm), primary branches plant-1, secondary branches plant-1, number of siliquae on main raceme, number of siliquae plant-1, number of seeds siliqua-1, days to maturity, 1000-seed weight (g), seed yield plant-1 (g), oil content (%) and harvest index (%). Phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation was high for seed yield plant-1 followed by primary branches plant-1, secondary branches plant-1, number of seeds siliqua-1 and moderate for secondary branches plant-1 and days to maturity. The expected genetic gain (% of mean) was highest for secondary branches plant-1 followed by seed yield plant-1, number of siliqua plant-1, primary branches plant-1, 1000-seed weight and number of seeds siliqua-1. The lowest genetic gain was observed for days to 50% flowering followed by days to maturity. Seed yield plant-1 exhibited a significant positive genotypic and phenotypic correlation with all the component traits studied. However, it was negatively correlated with maturity days and oil content at both the levels. For yield components significant positive association was revealed between number of siliqua plant-1 and seed yield plant-1, 1000-seed weight and number of seeds siliqua-1, seed yield plant-1 and harvest index both at phenotypic and genotypic levels. The mean values were used for statistical analysis and estimation of genetic parameters following diallel analysis. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the parents and their crosses for all the traits in the individual environment and the data pooled over environments. The variance due to GCA and SCA was significant for all the traits which showed that both were important in the inheritance of the traits. Significant interaction between combining ability effects and environments were observed for all the traits. The estimates of dominance variance were higher in magnitude than their corresponding additive genetic variance in the individual as well as pooled analysis indicating preponderance of non-additive gene action. Estimates of average degree of dominance revealed preponderance of overdominance for all the traits. None of the parents was found to be a good general combiner simultaneously for all traits. However, CR-1617 was identified as a good general combiner for most of the traits viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height (cm), secondary branches plant-1, number of siliquae on main raceme, number of siliquae plant-1, days to maturity, 1000-seed weight and seed yield plant-1, CR-2871 was the best general combiner for oil content and CR-2630 for harvest index. Overall ranking of genotypes revealed that genotypes CR-1617, CR-2638, CR-2677, CR-1607, CR-1480, KOS-1 and KS-101 could be useful sources of elite alleles based on their general combining effects. The most promising crosses that revealed highly positive and significant SCA effects for yield and yield attributing traits were CR-1485 x CR-1607, CR-1485 x CR-2871, CR-1480 x CR-2677, CR-2871 x KOS-1, CR-2638 x KOS-1, CR-2677 x KOS-1 and CR-2677 x KS-101 (E1, E2 and pooled analysis). The component analysis indicated preponderance of non-additive gene effects in the inheritance of all the traits. Net dominance effect over all loci in heterozygotes ( ) was significant and positive for all traits indicating unidirectional dominance, which was also confirmed from the value of / that indicated asymmetrical gene distribution. The value of KD/KR was more than one indicating presence of excess of dominant genes in parents, which was also verified by / value in almost all the cases. The graphical analysis indicated overdominance in case of 1000-seed weight and oil content (E1, E2 and pooled analysis) whereas, partial to complete dominance was observed for rest of the traits. Significant value of t2 alongwith significant deviation of regression coefficient from unity, indicated presence of non-allelic interactions, for secondary branches plant-1 and number of siliquae on main raceme, low to moderate estimates of heritability (narrow sense) were recorded. Significant and desirable mid and better parent heterosis was observed for most of the traits. The maximum heterosis for seed yield plant-1 was registered in CR-1485 x CR-1607, CR-1677 x KS-101, CR-1485 x CR-2871, CR-2677 x KS-101 and CR-1607 x CR-2677 (mid and better parent estimates). Higher magnitude of mid and better parent heterosis in the favourable direction for seed yield and component traits suggested the possibility of yield enhancement in brown sarson through the exploitation of heterosis breeding provided an economically feasible method is available for production of commercial hybrids

Character association in Chilli

The present investigation was carried out in 2007-08 using 25 chilli genotypes to elucidate the association of various yield attributing traits to develop a reliable set of traits for indirect selection. The data were observed from five randomly selected competitive plants from each replication for eight quantitative traits. The genotypic coefficients were higher in the magnitudes relative to corresponding estimates of phenotypic coefficients, which indicated high heritability of the traits under study. The fruits yield/plant exhibited highly significant correlation with number of fruits/plant, number of branches/plant and height of the plant, indicating the usefulness of these traits for improving upon fruit yield in chilli. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the highest direct effect on fruit yield/plant was exerted by average fruit weight followed by number of fruits/plant, number of branches/plant and plant spread, while as highest indirect effect on fruit yield/plant was exerted by number of branches/plant through number of fruits/plant, fruit length and fruit breadth through average fruit weight and plant height through number of fruits/plant. These traits can be used to develop an optimally reliable selection index for realizing improvements in fruit yield in chilli.La presente investigación se llevó a cabo en 2007-2008 utilizando 25 genotipos de pimentón para dilucidar la asociación de diversos componentes del rendimiento para desarrollar un conjunto confiable de caracteres para la selección indirecta. Los datos se observaron en cinco plantas bajo competencia y seleccionadas al azar de cada replicación para ocho caracteres cuantitativos. Los coeficientes genotípicos fueron mayores en magnitud relativa en comparación con las estimaciones del coeficiente fenotípico, lo cual indica una alta heredabilidad de los caracteres bajo estudio. El rendimiento de frutos/planta exhibió una correlación altamente significativa con el número de frutos/planta, número de reamas/planta y altura, indicando la utilidad de estos caracteres para mejorar el rendimiento de frutos en pimentón. El análisis de los coeficientes de trayectoria reveló que el mayor efecto directo sobre el rendimiento de frutos/planta fue ejercido por el peso promedio del fruto seguido por el número de frutos/planta, número de reamas/planta y el dosel de la planta, mientras, mientras que los mayores efectos indirectos sobre el rendimiento de frutos/planta fue ejercido por el número de ramas/planta a través del número de frutos/planta, longitud del fruto y ancho del fruto a través del peso promedio del fruto y la altura de la planta a través del número de frutos/planta. Estos caracteres pueden ser usados para desarrollar un índice de selección óptimamente confiable para realizar mejoras en el rendimiento de frutos en pimentón

Asociación entre caracteres en pimentón ( Capsicum annuum L.)

The present investigation was carried out in 2007-08 using 25 chilli genotypes to elucidate the association of various yield attributing traits to develop a reliable set of traits for indirect selection. The data were observed from five randomly selected competitive plants from each replication for eight quantitative traits. The genotypic coefficients were higher in the magnitudes relative to corresponding estimates of phenotypic coefficients, which indicated high heritability of the traits under study. The fruits yield/plant exhibited highly significant correlation with number of fruits/plant, number of branches/plant and height of the plant, indicating the usefulness of these traits for improving upon fruit yield in chilli. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the highest direct effect on fruit yield/plant was exerted by average fruit weight followed by number of fruits/plant, number of branches/plant and plant spread, while as highest indirect effect on fruit yield/plant was exerted by number of branches/plant through number of fruits/plant, fruit length and fruit breadth through average fruit weight and plant height through number of fruits/plant. These traits can be used to develop an optimally reliable selection index for realizing improvements in fruit yield in chilli.La presente investigación se llevó a cabo en 2007-2008 utilizando 25 genotipos de pimentón para dilucidar la asociación de diversos componentes del rendimiento para desarrollar un conjunto confiable de caracteres para la selección indirecta. Los datos se observaron en cinco plantas bajo competencia y seleccionadas al azar de cada replicación para ocho caracteres cuantitativos. Los coeficientes genotípicos fueron mayores en magnitud relativa en comparación con las estimaciones del coeficiente fenotípico, lo cual indica una alta heredabilidad de los caracteres bajo estudio. El rendimiento de frutos/planta exhibió una correlación altamente significativa con el número de frutos/planta, número de reamas/planta y altura, indicando la utilidad de estos caracteres para mejorar el rendimiento de frutos en pimentón. El análisis de los coeficientes de trayectoria reveló que el mayor efecto directo sobre el rendimiento de frutos/planta fue ejercido por el peso promedio del fruto seguido por el número de frutos/planta, número de reamas/planta y el dosel de la planta, mientras, mientras que los mayores efectos indirectos sobre el rendimiento de frutos/planta fue ejercido por el número de ramas/planta a través del número de frutos/planta, longitud del fruto y ancho del fruto a través del peso promedio del fruto y la altura de la planta a través del número de frutos/planta. Estos caracteres pueden ser usados para desarrollar un índice de selección óptimamente confiable para realizar mejoras en el rendimiento de frutos en pimentón

Genetic architecture of yield and its components in a spring x winter diallel cross of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Genetic architecture of yield and its attributing traits were studied in a full spring x winter diallel cross of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using five winter and five summer ecotypes. The experimental materials, evaluated over two random environments in a completely randomized block design revealed considerable variability for days to 50% heading, plant height, productive tillers plant-1, leaf area index, spike length, spikelets spike-1, grains spike-1, 100-seed weight, days to maturity, harvest index and grain yield plant-1. Significant G x E interaction was also observed for most of the traits including grain yield plant-1 revealing that the behaviour of the parents and crosses was not similar in the set of random environments. Different sets of gene complexes were observed to affect the yield component and maturity traits. Phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation was high for productive tillers plant-1; moderate for plant height, spikelets spike-1, grains spike-1, 100-seed weight and grain yield plant-1; and low for days to 50% heading, days to maturity, leaf area index, spike length and harvest index. Broad sense heritability was high for days to 50% heading, plant height, spikelets spike-1 and 100-seed weight ; moderate for productive tillers plant-1, spike length and harvest index, whereas, narrow sense heritability was high only for plant height and moderate for productive tillers plant-1, leaf area index and 100 seed weight. The low additive genetic heritability (breeding value) is expected in the F1 hybrids because of high level of heterzygosity at loci arising from the coming together of the different gene complexes. On the basis of data pooled over environments, genetic gain was low for almost all the characters indicating the role of environment in the expression of characters and higher magnitude of heterotic behaviour in the crosses. This genetic gain is expected to increase in the subsequent generations after following selective mating system (bi-parental mating). Grain yield exhibited significant positive genotypic and phenotypic correlation with all the component traits studied. However, it was negative and significant with maturity traits at both the levels. This significant negative correlation of grain yield plant-1 with maturity traits might have arisen since under Kashmir valley conditions the temperatures abruptly increase during May/June, which enhances the maturity (flowering & physiological maturity). This needs to be further investigated into before, scientific conclusions could be drawn for selection of early maturing high yielding genotypes. For yield components, significant positive association was revealed between the traits and similar inter-relationship was observed with leaf area and harvest indices. Based on the study of cause and effect relationship, the direct contribution to grain yield was observed from grains spike-1, productive tillers plant-1, plant height, and leaf area index. High positive indirect effects were, however, observed via grains spike-1 and productive tillers plant-1 in almost all the traits. The improvement in grain yield through selection for yield component traits via., grains spike-1 and productive tillers plant-1 would result in the isolation of putative high yielding genotypes in the present set of materials. None of the parents exhibited significant and desirable gca effect for all the traits. The parents with desirable gca effect for grain yield plant-1 were SKW-192, SKW-209, SKW-210 and SKW-211. For maturity traits the spring wheat parents demonstrated earliness. Similarly, among the cross combinations none revealed the desirable sca performance for all the traits. However, several cross combinations were identified to be superior for various yield and maturity traits based on sca and per se performance. Five top ranking and desirable crosses on the basis of sca performance for grain yield were observed to be HS-240 x SKW-210, HS-240 x SKW-209, SKW-210 x HS-295, SKW-209 x HS-365 and SKW-211 x HS-240. These crosses were mostly the result of high x average or average x average general combiners. On the basis of per se performance five top ranking cross combinations for grain yield included HS-240 x SKW-193, HS-295 x SKW-192, SKW-211 x HS-295, VL-845 x SKW-210 and HWP-220 x SKW-211. By and large, there was no correspondence between sca and mean per se performance for almost all the traits. Manifestation of desirable sca effects due to contribution of more favorable alleles and their interactions, could be used to generate desirable segregants. The two best crosses possessing desirable sca effect for grain yield plant-1 and productive tiller plant-1 were HS-240 x SKW-193, HS-295 x SKW-192 and HS-240 x SKW-193 and SKW-209 x HS-240. Graphical and component analysis of genetic variance revealed the significance of additive gene action for plant height, productive tillers plant-1, leaf area index, days to maturity and grain yield, whereas, components of variance due to dominance deviation were significant for all the traits indicating the preponderance of non-additive gene action in the inheritance of various traits. Average degree of dominance was in the over dominance range for all the characters but in the graphical analysis their dominance for most of the traits was in partial to complete dominance range. This upward bias in the dominance variation in the component analysis was observed to have arisen due to epitasis and/or linkage effects. Dominance was unidirectional for grain yield, spikelets spike-1, grains spike-1 and maturity traits, whereas the gene distribution was observed to be asymmetrical for all the traits except grain yield and harvest index. However, epistasis appeared to govern the inheritance of days to heading, spike length, spikelets spike-1 and grains spike-1. Crossing of the spring x winter wheat genotypes would broaden the genetic base of the population for selection of potent homozygous lines possessing high yield potential. Further, introduction of elite winter wheat genotypes and their exploitation through winter x spring wheat crosses is suggested to generate larger spectrum of variability for use in developing suitable genotypes for high altitude Valley conditions by following a selective diallel mating system to slow the process of the fixation of alleles