MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF WHEAT GERMPLASM FOR YIELD AND YIELD RELATED TRAITS

Abstract

Evaluation and identification of superior genotypes for general cultivation is the key objective of plant breedings programs. To investigate genotypic differences among exotic wheat germplasm and association between yield and yield associated attribute in wheat genetics, scientific research was Khalil Bin Ismail NJBS (2024) 5: 2 July – December, 2024 35 done at Agriculture Research Station, Baffa, Mansehra in 2021. Fifty genotypes including 49 exotic wheat genotypes and one check cultivar were sown in Randomised Complete Block (RCB) design with three replications. Data were recorded on plant length (cm), spike length(cm), 1000-grains weight (gm), days to emergence, number of heads and days to maturity, biological yield (kg), tiller m-2 , yield plot-1 (kg). Significants variation were noted among all the genotypes i.e plants height (cm), 1000 grain weight (gm), days to emergence , heading and maturity days, biological yields (kg), tiller m', grains yield (kg) length of spike (cm). Maximum plants height (104 cm), spikes length (11.63 cm), 1000 grain weight (39.3 gm), emergence days(20 days), days to headings (116 days), days to maturity (180.3 days), biological yield (11.9 kg), tiller m-2 ( 574) and grains yield (3.56 kg) were recorded for genotpye G43, G37, G37, G19, G48, G11, G40, G37 and G37, respectively. Grains yield depicted significant correlation with spike lengths, 1000 grains weight and tiller m-2 ; whereas, significant negative correlation with plant height and biological yield showed that these traits needs to be measured in determining selections criteria for grains yield improvement. Heritability evaluations revealed high values for all the parameters viz. plant height (0.83), 1000-grain weight (0.83), emergence days (0.61), days for heading (0.85), date to physiological maturity (0.72), biological yield (0.65), grain yield (0.77), tiller m-2 (0.84) and spike length (0.70). Selection response estimates revealed low values for the traits under study viz. plant height (7.9), 1000-grain weight (1.2), day to emergence (1.14), days to heading (2.892), days to maturity (2.65), biological yields (0.34), grain yield (0.59) but moderate for spike length (15.58) and high for parameter like tiller m-2 (25.49). Genotype G37, G3 and G38 produced maximum grain yield and thus should be suggested for breeding wheat and varietal development programme in future.