Character association and component analysis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Character association and component analysis studies in bread wheat germplasm were conducted under Rabi seasons of 2006–2007 and 2007–2008, in field experimentation centre of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding Allahabad Agriculture Institute-Deemed University, Allahabad. All the characters revealed high differences, high value of GCV and PCV in both years of Rabi seasons for seed yield per plant, effective tillers per plant and 1000 grain weight. Seed yield showed positive and significant correlation with effective tillers per plant, grains per spike, spike length and 1000 grain weight both at genotypic and phenotypic level in 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 crop seasons. Seed yield per plant showed positive direct effect on effective tillers per plant, plant height, 1000 grain weight and days to maturity. Thus, these characters may be effective as selection indices during breeding programme for improving yield.