Estimation of genetic variability and diversity in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for yield and yield contributing traits

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to study genetic variability and genetic divergence for 12 traits in 50 diverse genotypes of bread wheat under normal sown condition. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the mean square due to genotypes for all the characters studied. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for grain weight per main spike followed by biological yield per plant, 1000-grain weight and grain yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for 1000-grain weight, grain weight per main spike, number of grains per main spike, biological yield per plant and grain yield per plant. Genetic divergence was assessed by Mahalanobis D2 statistic, which grouped 50 genotypes into ten clusters. Maximum genetic divergence was observed between cluster VII and IX followed by between cluster IV and VII. The attributes, viz., 1000-grain weight, biological yield per plant, number of grains per main spike, days to maturity and grain weight per main spike had highest contribution towards total genetic divergence.