Evaluation of variability and genetic parameters in agro- physiological traits of wheat under rain-fed condition

ABSTRACT: The present investigation was carried out to estimate the genetic variability of agro-physiological characters using biometrical genetic techniques in 20 bread wheat genotypes under rainfed condition. High genetic gain and broad sense heritability estimates were observed for chlorophyll ab (Chl ab), quantum yield (QY) and performance index (PI) indicating high genetic potential, low effect of environment and predominant role of additive gene effect on their expression. Negative co-heritability estimate between leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) and relative water content (RWC) revealed that selection based on one of them will reduce another one. High co-heritability was observed between PI and RWC, PI and stomatal conductance (SC), grain yield (GY) and chlorophyll (Chl a) suggesting that selection of either of the characters will simultaneously affect the others positively.