Study of Genetic Variability and Character Association in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

This study aimed to identify wheat genotypes with superior yield potential and to elucidate the genetic basis of yield-related traits. We evaluated 80 diverse Indian wheat genotypes under field conditions at the Agriculture Research Farm-I, Tantia University, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, during the rabi season of 2023-24. Eleven agro-morphological traits, including days to 50% flowering (DFF), plant height (PH), peduncle length (PL), biological yield per plant (BYP), grain yield per plant (GYP), and harvest index (HI), were assessed to determine their performance and genetic variability. The results revealed significant genetic variability among the genotypes. WH-1310 emerged as the top performer, exhibiting the highest grain yield per plant (41.36 g), followed by DBW-179 (41.47 g), HS-627 (40.60 g), HTW-11 (40.38 g), HD-1609 (40.26 g), and HW-5207 (40.30 g). A strong positive correlation was observed between grain yield per plant and plant height, peduncle length, biological yield per plant, and harvest index, underscoring their critical role in enhancing grain yield. Overall, this study provides critical insights into the genetic variability and yield potential of wheat genotypes. The identified high-yielding genotypes, such as WH-1310 and DBW-179, hold promise for developing improved wheat cultivars. Further research is recommended to uncover the specific genetic and molecular mechanisms driving these traits, enhancing breeding efforts for yield optimization.