A comparison of cytoplasmic and chemically-induced male sterility systems for hybrid performance in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)

Cytoplasmic ( Triticum timopheevii -based) and chemically induced (CH9832- based) male sterility systems were compared for hybrid performance in wheat. A total of 40 genotypes including 10 CMS-based hybrids, 10 CHA-based hybrids, 10 B lines and 10 R lines were included in the experiment. analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the genotypes for all the characters studied. Differences between the hybrids and their parents were significant for all the characters. There were also significant differences between the hybrids resulting from the two systems of sterility. This study of 10 comparable hybrids showed, on average, midparent heterosis of 30.2 and 7.3% for CMS- and CHA-derived hybrids, respectively. Generally, the CMS-based hybrids were superior to their CHA-based equivalents for grain yield performance. In spite of the incomplete fertility the higher grain yield in CMS-based hybrids was attributed to the profuse tillering and high thousand-grain weight. On the other hand, the CHA-based hybrids had lower yield performance due to the lower thousand-grain weight and tillering. The lower grain weight and tillering in these hybrids compared with their CMS-based equivalents might be due to the toxic effect of the CHA, which was carried over to the hybrid and affected vigour. As a whole the CMS system was found to be better than the CHA system (based on the particular CHA used in this study) for hybrid performance in wheat.