Study of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat is an important crop to ensure food and nutritional security for growing demands. The experiment aims to study the genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance in 55 genotypes. The experiment was grown in a randomized complete block design of 55 (10 parents and 45 hybrids produced from half-diallel mating) genotypes at the CRC of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology Meerut during rabi 2023-2024. The analysis of variance revealed the high significance for all traits, establishing the sufficient variation present in the genotypes. In genetic variability analysis, the phenotypic coefficient of variation observed is higher than their respective genotypic coefficient of variation, an indication that our observation has been highly influenced by the environment. The high heritability observed for days to maturity, peduncle length, spike length, number of grains per spike, gluten content, 1000 grain weight, biological yield per plant, harvest index, and grain yield per plant. The high heritability with high genetic advance was observed for harvest index and grain yield per plant. As yield is the most important dependent trait, the grain yield per plant and harvest index can be selected as selection parameters for further crop improvement programs.