Studies on genetic diversity among genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
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Date
2016
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Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur)
Abstract
A study was conducted at Research Farm of Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar during rabi 2015-16 to evaluate the 33 genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for yield attributing traits. Investigation was carried out on variability, character association, path analysis and genetic divergence for yield attributing traits viz., plant height, number of tillers per plant, flag leaf area, days to fifty per cent flowering, chlorophyll content, canopy temperature, relative water content, spike length, number of grains per spike, days to maturity, 1000 Grain weight, grain yield per plot, harvest Index. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications.
Analysis of variance revealed highly significant variation among the genotypes for all the characters studied under present investigation. The variability study indicated high to moderate phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation accompanied by high heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean for traits like plant height, number of tillers per plant, flag leaf area, chlorophyll content, canopy temperature, spike length, grains per spike, grain yield per plot, and harvest index indicating their importance in selection for yield improvement. This study indicates preponderance of additive gene effect, which will help to make selection in early segregating generation. The genetic advance as per cent mean suggesting still there is scope for further improvement of genotypes for these characters.
Correlation studies indicated that grain yield per plot exhibited significant positive association with harvest index, chlorophyll content, and relative water content. This indicated that harvest index, chlorophyll content, and relative water content may be an important traits for predicting grain yield.
Path analysis revealed that highest positive direct effect was exhibited by chlorophyll content at both phenotypic and genotypic level. Thus, this traits may be used as selection criteria.
The 33 genotypes of bread wheat were grouped into six clusters using Tocher method. The genotypes in cluster III and cluster VI, due to maximum inter cluster distance between them, exhibited high degree of genetic diversity and thus may be utilized under inter varietal hybridization programme (transgressive breeding) for getting high yielding recombinants. Similar inter varietal crosses may be attempted between genotypes in cluster V and VI and cluster II and IV. Cluster I was suitable for spike length, flag leaf area, grains per spike, thousand grain weight, and grain yield per plot, Therefore, selection of parents from this cluster for these traits would be effective. Days to fifty per cent flowering and harvest index contributed maximum towards genetic divergence.
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