Selection indices for yield improvement in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Fifty diverse genotype of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) evaluated in a randomized in a block design with three replication to study selection indices during Rabi 2018-2019. Sixty-three selection indices involving grain yield per plant and its five components viz., plant height, ear length, number of grains per main spike, grain weight per main spike and harvest index were constructed using the discriminant function technique. The efficiency of selection increased with the inclusion of more characters in the selection index. The index based on six characters viz., grain yield per plant, plant height, ear length, number of grains per main spike, grain weight per main spike and harvest index recorded the highest genetic gain and relative efficiency. The use of these indices is advocated for selecting high yielding genotypes of bread wheat.