Five varieties of durum wheat ( Leeds, Azeghar1, Um–Rabie3, Cyprus1and korfila) and their half diallel crosses (F1 and F2 generation ) were used in this study. seeds were planted during the cultivated season (2006–2007) in the field of Agricultural and forestry college at the university center, using randomized complete block design with three replications, to study the general and specific combining abilities, Heterosis and inbreeding depression for plants height, spikes length, no. spikes per plant, no spikletes per spike, biological yield, grain yield, 1000 grain weight, harvest index, spike yield and no. grains per spike.
Analysis of variance showed significant genotype mean square for all characters except harvest index in F1, 1000-grain weight, harvest index, spikes yield and no. grains per spike in F2. General combining ability mean square was significant for plant height, spikes length, no. spikes per plant, no. spikletes per spike, biological yield and grain yield in F1 as well as in F2 except no. spikes per plant in the later.
The variety "1" characterized as a good combiner for most of characters in F1 and F2, likewise the hybrids (2×4), (4×5) and (3×4) in F1. The ratio between the general combining ability components to that of the specific one revealed that additive genes effects more important in the inheritance of the spikes length, no. spikes per plant, no. spikletes per spike, biological yield and harvest index, while the remaining characters were governed by the non additive genes effects at F2. In F2 about all the characters were governed by the non additive effects. Most hybrids showed significant, desirable heterosis for some characters, of them (4×5) and (2×4) were surpassed for most characters. The hybrids (1×3) and (4x5) had a significant inbreeding depression for largest number of characters |