Genetic parameters of variation and correlation analysis in wheat under terminal heat stress

Abstract

Present investigation was conducted at All India Co-ordinated Wheat & Barley Improvement Project, B.T.C. College of Agriculture and Research Station, Bilaspur, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh during Rabi season 2018-19. The experiment aimed to study the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation coefficient and path coefficient. The study material comprised of 25 germplasm lines. Genetic variability was observed for most of the characters as evidenced by significant mean squares to genotypes suggesting that, it could be helpful in isolation of better germplasm. The magnitude of GCV and PCV was observed high to moderate for the characters number of seeds per spike, number of seeds per plant, effective tillers per m², 1000 seed weight (g), biological yield (g) and seed yield per plot (kg). The high heritability estimate was recorded for the character number of seeds per spike and effective tillers per m². The high genetic advance was observed for effective tillers per m² and number of seeds per plant. Among 12 characters studied the high genetic advance as percentage of mean was observed for number of seeds per spike and number of seeds per plant and high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of mean was found for number of seeds per spike, number of seeds per plant and 1000 seed weight (g). Results of association analysis revealed that length of spike, number of spiklets per spike, number of seeds per spike and number of seeds per plant exhibited the positive correlation with seed yield per plot. Hence, direct selection for these traits may lead to the development of high yielding wheat genotypes.