GENETIC VARIABILITY STUDIES FOR YIELD AND YIELD ATTRIBUTING TRAITS OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVIUM L.)Mayur Roshan Sahoo, Aarti Sharma and Hemant Kumar JaiswalAbstract Diversity analysis was carried out in 93 wheat genotypes including three checks with help of cluster analysis, path analysis, heritability in broad sense, genetic advance as per cent of mean, coefficient of variation and correlation coefficient. D2 statistics showed existence of 10 clusters which clearly indicated presence of considerable genetic divergence in the experimental material. In Path analysis, traits viz., tillers per plant, spike length and grains per spike displayed positive and direct effect on yield per plot; indicating that selection of those traits can be practiced to improve yield. Grain yield per plot showed positive correlation with days to maturity, plant height, tillers per meter, tillers per plant, spike length and grain per spike. All traits show high heritability in broad sense. Genetic advance in percent of mean estimates were high in all traits except days to maturity and days to fifty percent heading; which recorded low and moderate estimates of genetic advance, respectively. The difference between PCV and GCV was less indicating less impact of environment in the expression of various yield contributing traits. |