Estimation of path coefficient analysis for yield and its contributing traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Path coefficient analysis is a powerful tool for understanding the direct and indirect contributions of yield-contributing traits. This study aimed to find the relationships among key agronomic and quality traits and their influence on grain yield per plant. Genotypic and phenotypic path analyses were conducted to determine the relative importance of traits such as number of grains per ear, productive tillers, biological yield, 1000-grain weight, spikelets per spike, and harvest index. The analysis revealed that biological yield per plant, number of productive tillers, and number of grains per ear had strong direct effects on grain yield, while other traits like spikelets per spike and harvest index exerted considerable indirect effects through their association with major yield components. Traits such as days to heading, plant height, protein content, and gluten content showed low or negligible direct effects, indicating their limited direct contribution to grain yield. These findings provide valuable information for wheat breeding programs, facilitating the selection of traits that can effectively improve yield potential and stability.