Multivariate Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis of Various Agro-Physiological Traits in CIMMYT Accessions of Bread Wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) em. Thell]

Abstract

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell) is one of the most vital staple crops globally, providing sustenance for billions of people. The continued increase in the global population, coupled with the ever-changing climate patterns and growing concerns about food security, has intensified the need for enhancing the productivity and adaptability of wheat varieties. In this context, in the 2019-20 Rabi season, a research study was conducted at Banaras Hindu University's Agriculture Research Farm, Varanasi, in a randomized complete block design with two replications. This research examines the association and interrelationships between thirteen different agro-physiological traits among fifty accessions of CIMMYT bread wheat. The results demonstrate significant positive correlations between grain yield and yield-related traits, including plant height, spike length, biological yield per plot, test weight, and harvest index at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Further analysis using path coefficients shed light on the direct and indirect effects of these traits on grain yield. Among the studied traits, harvest index and biological yield per plot were found to have higher direct effects than others. Days to 50 % flowering, days to maturity, plant height, canopy temperature showed negligible positive direct effect on grain yield. These findings hold significant promise for informing and optimizing selection and breeding programs aimed at enhancing wheat varieties.