Correlation, path co-efficient analysis and heritability estimates of some metrical traits in bread wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.)

The present research was conducted to estimate the association of yield contributing characters with grain yield and the estimation of heritability percentage in broad sense. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications at Latif Experimental Farm Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam in Rabi season 2013-2014. Three wheat genotypes, i.e. TD-1, Kiran-95 and Sarsabz, were evaluated for seven quantitative traits viz. plant height, number of tillers per plant, spike length, number of spikelets spike-1, number of grains spike-1, seed index and grain yield plant-1. All the traits differed significantly at P < 0.01 level. The variety Kiran-95 showed superiority in plant height (90.35cm), number of tillers (7.37), spikelets spike-1(15.135), grains spike-1(52.90) and grain yield plant-1(22.23g). The results indicated that there was a positive and significant correlation between plant height and spike length, spikelets spike-1and grains spike-1. There was a strong positive association between spikelets spike-1and grain yield plant-1. Path analysis indicated that the direct effect of spike length, spikelets spike-1, grains spike-1, and seed index on grain yield was 0.470, 0.992, -0.677 and -0.026 which makes 111.81, 141.38, -140.3, and -8.36 % respectively of the total phenotypic correlation. Plant height and number of grains spike-1exhibited maximum genetic variances which was associated with highest heritability estimates in broad sense and genetic advance among the traits under the study.