Enhancing rice breeding through two-line hybrids: integrative analysis of combining ability, heterosis, MGIDI, and grain quality traits
摘要
Two-line hybrid rice breeding, using thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) lines, offers significant advantages over traditional three-line systems by addressing heterosis limitations and enhancing seed reproducibility. This study analyzed the genetic parameters and gene actions for 15 yield and grain quality traits in 135 two-line hybrid combinations produced by crossing between five TGMS lines with 27 paternal lines using the line × tester method. Superior hybrids were further assessed for 14-grain quality traits to determine their potential. The results indicated these traits are controlled by both additive and non-additive gene actions, with additive variance makes the largest contributions to the genotypic variance. General combining ability identified the best parental combiners, while specific combining ability (SCA) analysis highlighted high-yield hybrids. Dominance variance was greater than additive variance, showing that influence of non-additive gene effects on trait inheritance. MGIDI-based selection identified top-performing hybrids such as TNAU 45S × PMK-3, TNAU 45S × APO, and TNAU 45S × I 127, which exhibited excellent SCA effects, high heterosis, and superior grain yield, quality, and early maturity. Hybrids TNAU 60S × BPT 3034 and TNAU 116S × W225 showed significant heterosis for grain yield, productive tillers, and spikelet fertility. Additionally, TNAU 60S × Wayrarem achieved the highest head rice recovery rate (72.99%), while TNAU 14S × JGL 34560 exhibited an optimal amylose content of 26.2%, aligning well with consumer preferences. These hybrids offers a strong combination of high yield potential and desirable grain qualities, making them well suited for cultivation in water stressed environments. This research provides valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms that control yield and grain quality in two-line hybrid rice, forming a basis for future breeding programs to improve rice productivity and food security in changing climate.