Genetic variability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes for agro-morphological traits and their correlation and path analysis

In the present study, 98 wheat genotypes were evaluated for estimation of heritability, variability, correlation and path analysis. The wheat genotypes were sown in randomized block design in two replications in the field of Wheat and Barley Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS HAU, Hisar (India) during Rabi, 2018-2019. Phenotypic data was recorded for nine characters viz. plant height, number of effective tillers per meter, spike length, number of grains per spike, number of Spikelets per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield per plot, and biological yield per plot. The highest value for GCV and PCV was observed for biological yield per plot (18.09 & 19.18 % respectively). Heritability for broad sense (h2) and genetic advance as 5% of mean were highest for harvest index (96.50 %) and biological yield (35.17%), respectively. Grain yield per plot was highly and significantly correlated with all the traits except plant height and grain yield per plot. Path analysis revealed that biological yield per plot had the maximum direct positive effect on grain yield per plot and harvest index, whereas, all other traits except plant height contributed indirectly towards grain yield per plot via biological yield per plot. Thus, these component traits may be used in wheat breeding program for further improvement in grain yield.