The goal of the current study to estimate the combining ability and gene effects for grain yield and its attributing traits in Macaroni wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). During Rabi 2023-24, eight lines and four testers were used in an attempt to make crossovers utilizing a line × tester mating scheme. In Rabi 2024–2025, the 32 hybrids that were produced, along with 12 parents and one standard check (GW 1339), were examined at the Wheat Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, using a randomized block design with three replications. The analysis of variance for combining ability revealed that the mean square due to lines and testers were significant for all the characters except mean square due to testers for plant height and 100-grain weight. Likewise, mean squares due to line × tester interaction was also found significant for all characters under investigation except plant height. For every individual in the study, the influence of specific gene combinations (SCA) on their traits was more significant than the general influence of their parents (GCA). This was further supported by the ratio of σ2gca/σ2sca was less than unity for all characters confirmed the preponderance of non-additive gene action for all the traits. The estimates of gca effect indicated that among the lines, MACS 3949, GW 1348, MPO 1357 and HD 4758 were found to be good general combiners for grain yield per plant, while GDW 1255 and NIDW 1158 identified as good general combiner for this trait among testers. Parent UAS 475 was found to be good general combiners for early maturity due to negative and significant gca effects for days to anthesis and days to maturity. For grain yield per plant out of 32 crosses 11 were evaluated for their sca effects exhibited significant and favourable sca effects. Among them, the highest sca effects was manifested by the cross GW 1348 × GDW 1255 followed by HD 4758 × WHD 965 and HI 8841 × HI 8737.
Jeel et al. (Wed,) studied this question.