Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance study in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present investigation consists of seventeen Wheat genotypes and the experiment was conducted during Rabi-2016- 2017 and 2017–2019 in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The experiment consisted of 17 parents (13 lines and 4 testers) and 52 F1s developed from line x tester mating design (13 x 4). The data were recorded on 14 quantitative characters (12 agronomical and 2 quality characters) viz; days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), spike length (cm), spikelets per spike, productive tillers per plant, grains per spike, flag leaf area (cm2), biological yield per plant (g), grain yield per plant (g), harvest index (%), 1000 grain weight (g), gluten content (%) and ash content (%). The data were recorded for 15 quantitative characters to study genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance. On the basis of mean performance, high Plant height was exhibited by different genotypes. Analysis of variance among 17 genotypes showed significant differences for all traits studied. Highest genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) & phenotypic coefficient variation (PCV) was observed for Grain Yield/Plant followed by Plant Height, Harvest Index and Ash Content indicating that these characters could be used as selection for crop improvement. On the basis of high estimates of heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for Plant Height, Biological Yield/Plant, Harvest Index and Grain Yield/Plant indicating predominance of additive gene effects and possibilities of effective selection for the improvement of these characters.