Path analysis studies of EMS-mutagenized mutant population of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Mutated genetic resources play a crucial role and are of utmost importance in gene/allele characterization. Currently, hexaploid wheat mutated resources are rarely available. In the present investigation, a mutated population comprising 1,536 EMS-induced mutation lines (M7 generation) of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were used as an experimental material. Mutant population was developed and maintained at G.B.P.U.A.T, Pantnagar. The experiment was conducted in augmented block design II. in season 2019-20 at Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre G.B.P.U.A.T, Pantnagar. The study revealed that number of tillers per plant recorded significantly higher direct effect on grain yield per plant followed by number of grains per spike, thousand grain weight, plant height, ear length, flag leaf width, grain length, flag leaf area and number of spikelet per spike. The association between grain yield per plant and these characters was significant. The direct negative effects on grain yield was observed by grain width, flag leaf length and peduncle length.