Late sowing of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop correlates with high temperatures. Thus, temperature is one of the main restraining factors influencing wheat yield productivity, especially during the grain-filling period. The best solution to this problem is to evolve heat-tolerant genotypes. Yet, heat tolerance is a complicated issue, causing it a challenge to make a reliable assessment of it. High-temperature stress is a chief ecological constraint hampering the productivity of hexaploid wheat in most parts of the globe. Wheat genotypes, which persist against abiotic stresses, especially at terminal stress periods, are options to meet Pakistan’s food requirements in the coming years. In the current study, concerning SCA effects, the F₁ hybrids, such as TD-1 × Kiran-95, NIA-Sarang × TJ-83, Benazir × AS-2002, TD-1 × Kiran-95, NIA-Sarang × Benazir, and TJ-83 × AS-2002, expressed rewarding SCA effects for several characteristics under the heat-stress environment; hence, they could be alternatives in future wheat breeding programs. Heterosis may further be a pursuit for these crosses to get the advantage of hybrid vigor.

Keywords: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), heterosis, yield, heat stress, genotypes, physiological and yield traits

Key findings: Regarding SCA effects, the F₁ hybrids, such as TD-1 × Kiran-95, NIA-Sarang × TJ-83, Benazir × AS-2002, TD-1 × Kiran-95, NIA-Sarang × Benazir, and TJ-83 × AS-2002, articulated rewarding SCA effects for several traits under heat-stress environment. Hence, they can be options in future wheat (T. aestivum L.) breeding programs.