Diversity and Performance of Wheat Hybrids in the Great Plains.

Successful hybrid crop production relies on adequate and predictable heterosis. In developing hybrid wheat, evaluation of hybrids for performance as compared to commercial checks is necessary, as well as the screening of germplasm and development of heterotic groups. Using sets of germplasm from the small grains breeding programs of the University of Nebraska and Texas A&M, 650 hybrids were formed from a full diallel and evaluated for yield and other performance characteristics in four locations. The 25 parental genotypes were sequenced using genotyping-by-sequencing and diversity was evaluated from a number of methods. The results of the yield evaluations of the hybrids under varying climates and the diversity analysis will drive future research in identification and development of heterotic groups for hybrid wheat production for the Great Plains.