Analysis of variability, heritability and genetic advance of yield, its components and quality traits in wheat

Abstract

One hundred five advanced lines of wheat were grown in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Analysis of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for twelve traits were done. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher in magnitude than that of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits under studied. The high estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (>10%) were recorded in E1 and E2 for spike length (10.22), and tillers per plant (12.19) respectively. High estimate of heritability in broad sense (>75%) was recorded for test weight (88.72 %), plant height (86.70%), harvest index (76.7 %), spike length and in E1. While all the characters in the E1 and E2 had the moderate to low estimates of heritability. Test weight, spike length, peduncle length, harvest index, in E1 and harvest index in E2 showed moderate estimate of genetic advance in percent of mean (10-20%). Rest of the traits showed low estimate of genetic advance in percent of mean in both environments This indicates that these high traits may be controlled by additive genetic variation that can be utilized for further breeding programs and crossing nurseries of wheat improvement.