HAPLOID REGENERATION BY ANTHER CULTURE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO AGRONOMIC TRAITS IN THE PARENTS AND PROGENY PURE LINES OF A COMPOSITE CROSS OF HEXAPLOID WHEAT

The genetic variability for haploid regeneration parameters and yield traits, and their relationship were studied using 39 genotypes of hexa ploid winter wheat in two separate experiments, realized with the same conditions in a greenhouse. The experimental design was a randomized- complete block design with three replications, each replication consis ting of one pot containing three plants per genotype per experiment. T he genetic correlations between the different haploid regeneration par ameters by anther culture and yield traits were determined from the me ans of all replications of each gentoype. The mode of association of a ll the traits was also studied by using the principal component analys is method. Extensive genetic variability was shown for all haploid reg eneration parameters and yield traits. Positive and significant correl ations (P=0.001) among haploid regeneration parameters and yield trait s were observed, but there was no significant positive or negative rel ationships between these two groups of traits. We conclude that select ion for androgenic parameters does not have any negative effect on yie ld traits and successful selection should be made for haploid regenera tion parameters and/or yield traits in crossing programmes.