Estimation of Genetic Parameters and Character Association in Wheat

Heritability estimates measure the relative importance of additive portion of genetic variance and it has crucial role in selection criteria for yield improvement. Broad sense heritability, genetic advance and correlation coefficients for various plant characters in six wheat varieties and their twelve F2 progenies were investigated. The genotypes were significantly different for plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of spikelets per spike, grains per spike and grain yield per plant. The magnitude of broad sense heritability of plant height, tillers per plant, grains per spike and grain yield was high with values 0.94, 0.98, 0.92 and 0.91 respectively, and was low in case of number of spikelets per spike (0.24). The values of genetic advance ranged from 0.044 in 1000 grain weight to 25.289 in plant height. Fairly high estimates of heritability and genetic advance for plant height, number of tillers, and grains per spike suggested that selection for these traits could be practiced more effectively. Plant height had significantly positive correlation with number of tillers both at phenotypic and genotypic levels. Tillers per plant displayed negative relationship with spikelets per spike and 1000 grain weight and number of grains per spike. Grain yield was positively and significantly correlated with number of grains per spike and 1000 grain weight. Hence the traits be given emphasis during selection of wheat genotypes for improving productivity.