Genetic Assessment of Quantitative Trait Variation in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate ten bread wheat genotypes along with their 45 F₁ hybrids (excluding reciprocals), laid out in a randomized block design with three replications during the Rabi season of 2022–2023 at the Student’s Instructional Farm, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The primary aim was to assess the extent of genetic variability and key selection parameters for improving grain yield and associated quality traits. The analysis encompassed fourteen traits, including days to fifty percent heading, days to maturity, plant height, chlorophyll content, productive tillers per plant, spike length, spikelets per spike, grains per spike, grain weight per spike, 1000-grain weight, biological yield, harvest index, protein content, and grain yield per plant. Among parents, days to maturity showed the widest range of variation (117.33 to 137.67 days), whereas plant height exhibited the greatest variability among F₁ hybrids (85.97 to 120.53 cm). Across all traits, phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) exceeded the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), suggesting a notable environmental influence. Grain yield per plant showed the highest values for both PCV and GCV among hybrids. Heritability estimates were generally high across all traits in the F₁ generation, with yield of grain and total plant dry matter per plant showing the most substantial genetic gain, highlighting their potential for effective selection in future breeding programs.