Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis in Wheat

To understand the association of yield and yield attributes and their contribution to each other, 179 genotypes including four check varieties were evaluated in an Augmented Block Design with 18 blocks. Each block (excepting one block) contained 10 test genotypes and 4 check genotypes. The data on five random selected plants of each genotype were recorded on 14 quantitative characters, including grain yield and its component characters. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was high for most of the characters, especially, the biological yield per plant, tillers per plant, plant height and grain yield. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that nine characters namely, biological yield per plant, tiller number per plant, grain weight per ear, grains per ear, harvest index, spikelets per spike, plant height, flag leaf area and flag leaf sheath length showed significant and positive correlation with grain yield. Path coefficient analyses revealed that biological yield followed by harvest index and grains per ear were the only traits that showed highest positive direct effects towards grain yield.