Principal component analysis and determination of the selection criteria in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes

ABSTRACT: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the major cereal crop in Iran on which the food security rests. Determination of the best selection criteria is the most important aim in wheat breeding programs. In order to evaluate and classify morphological and morpho-physiological traits of bread wheat genotypes, 18 cultivars were sown in randomised complete block design with three replications. Principal component analysis indicated that four important components accounted for about 76 percent of the total variation among traits in bread wheat cultivars. The first component assigned 38 percent of total variation between traits and was significantly related with spike yield and it’s components. Therefore, this component was regarded as spike seed yield. Other components accounted for 15, 12 and 11 percent of variation between traits and were entitled as tillering, seed weight and seed yield components, respectively. Overall, results revealed importance of spike and seed yield components in breeding of spike yield and seed production ability in nread wheat cultivars.