Heterosis, Heterobeltiosis, and Heritability Studies for Morphological Traits of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Seedlings

Triticum aestivum L. wheat represents the widest cultivated cereal species on the planet for its significance as a human and animal nutritional source of carbohydrates and protein. The objective of this research was to understand seedling traits within wheat parental lines and their F₁ hybrids for finding high-yielding genotypes. Research took place in a monitored glasshouse at the University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan, between 2024 and 2025 during the cropping season. Five seed lines W-101, X-205, YV-412, Z-308, T-189, together with six F₁ hybrids, received assessment under a completely randomized block design (RCBD). Measures of seedling characteristics included fresh shoot length, along with fresh root length as well as root-to-shoot length ratio combined with fresh shoot weight and fresh root weight, followed by root-to-shoot weight ratio. The evaluation of fresh root and shoot traits in genotypes led to significant results indicating high heritability, together with significant genetic advance for these traits. The F₁ hybrid X-205 × Z-308 produced maximum fresh shoot length results of 18.650 cm, combined with fresh root length of 8.100 cm and the best root-to-shoot weight ratio at 0.608. This hybrid surpassed Z-308 × X-205 and YV-412 × X-205. These wheat hybrid combinations demonstrated maximum heterosis and heterobeltiosis values because of their high potential to enhance wheat yield potential. Early growth vigor and yield potential improvement through wheat breeding programs can be achieved using the promising wheat hybrid combinations X-205 × Z-308, Z-308 × X-205, YV-412 × X-205, and X-205 × W-101.