Genetic Variability Studies in F2 Population of the Wheat Cross DDK-1029 x GPM DIC 66

Abstract

The selection of breeding material heavily relies on genetic variation and its inherited components. A thorough understanding of genetic variation is necessary in order to develop an improved variety. Thus, genetic parameters were assessed in the F2 population of the cross between DDK-1029 and GPM DIC 66. The genetic variability results indicated a moderate to high phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation for characters like days to 50% flowering, plant height, productive tillers per plant, spike length, spikelets per spike, grains per spike, thousand grain weight and grain yield. In contrast, the protein, iron and zinc contents exhibited low to moderate phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation. All the traits had higher heritability except for grain yield which exhibited a moderate heritability. All the characters exhibited significant GAM except for days to maturity, iron content and protein content which exhibited moderate GAM. This suggests that high genetic variation, heritability, and GAM for such traits will aid in their improvement through both direct and indirect selection.