Studies on Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Coefficient for Yield and Its Component Traits in Wheat “(Triticum aestivum L.em.Thell.)”

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out taking collection of fifty wheat genotype from different eco-geographic origin. Data on eight quantitative characters viz; Plant height, reproductive tillers/plant, length of spike, spikelets/spike, days to maturity, grains/spike, test weight and grain yield/plant were recorded. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences among all the genotypes for almost all the traits under study. The genotypes showed moderate to high level of genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV). The magnitudes of phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) for all the characters were slightly higher than their corresponding genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV), indicated very less environmental influence on the expression of the characters. Higher estimate of GCV (15.55) was recorded for Length of spike followed by grain yield per plant (14.91). Analysis of correlation revealed that in general, the magnitude of genotypic correlation coefficients was higher than the phenotypic correlation coefficients, suggesting the existence of inherent association among the traits studied.  Plant height, reproductive tillers per plant, spikelets per spike, grains per spike and test weight had high positive correlation with grain yield per plant and also having maximum direct positive effect on it. The studies suggest that the selection pressure should be exercised simultaneously on plant height, reproductive tillers per plant, spikelets per spike, grains per spike and test weight to obtain maximum yield.

Keywords: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Spikelets, variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis.