Correlation and path coefficient analysis of some quantitative traits in bread wheat

One hundred five wheat genotypes and three checks varieties were studied for correlation and path coefficient analysis for some quantitative and physiological traits related to terminal heat tolerance at the Experimentation Centre of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, NAI, SHUATS, Allahabad (U.P.). Generally, the estimates of genotypic correlation coefficients were higher than the corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficients for all the character combinations. Seed yield was significantly and positively associated with spike weight, grains per spike, test weight, chlorophyll content, harvest index and biological yield per plant. But it showed significant negative association with days to heading, days to flowering, plant height and days to maturity at genotypic level. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the magnitude of positive direct effect on grain yield per plant was highest through biological yield, followed by harvest index and test weight, whereas chlorophyll content followed by days to flowering revealed negative direct effect on grain yield per plant.