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

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important cereal crop of cool climates, and plays a key role in the food and nutritional security of India. The objective of this study was to establish the inter-relationship and direct and indirect effect of various wheat components on yield. Two hundred ten recombinant inbred lines were studied for correlation and path coefficient analysis of some quantitative traits in wheat at HAU Agricultural Research Farm during Rabi 2015-16 and 2016-17. 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 biological yield followed by harvest index, number of effective tillers per plant and ear length in both years. Number of tillers per plant indicated change of positive and significant correlation to non-significant for plant height and negative and non-significant for harvest index over the years. Plant height exhibited positive significant correlations with ear length, number of spikelets per ear and biological yield over the years. Weight of 100-grains was significantly and positively correlated with number of spikelets per ear over the years. In view of correlation studies over the years it was observed that number of grains per ear shifted negative and significant correlation to non-significant correlation with harvest index. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the magnitude of positive direct effect on seed yield was highest through biological yield followed by harvest index and number of tillers per plant. Weight of 100-grains, number of grains per ear, plant height, ear length and number of spikelets per ear showed low direct effects, but indirectly contributed towards grain yield per plant via biological yield in both years.