Comparison of Yield and Identification of Effective Traits on Yield of Some Wheat Genotypes in Baghlan Province

Wheat is Afghanistan's primary staple food crop, and improving its productivity is essential. Selecting high-yield varieties is a key approach to enhancing wheat production. This study aims to compare the average yields of 17 wheat genotypes cultivated in Baghlan province and identify traits that significantly impact yield. The experiment was conducted during the winter season of 2022-2023 at the research farm of the Agriculture Faculty of Baghlan University. The soil was sandy loam, and a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and 17 treatments was used. Fifteen traits of these genotypes were evaluated. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences in all characteristics (at the <1% significance level). Kabali, Lalmi 17, Chonta, and Wahdat demonstrated the highest yields among the varieties. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that grain yield per m² had a significant positive correlation with traits such as the number of grains per spike, grain weight per spike, spike weight, grain yield per plant, biological yield per plant, stem height, biological yield per m², and harvest index. In the regression analysis (stepwise method), the number of grains per spike, spikes per m², and 1000-grain weight remained in the final model (R² ≈ 0.86). Path analysis indicated that the number of grains per spike, spikes per m², 1000-grain weight, and days to flowering had the most substantial direct effects on grain yield. Cluster analysis classified the genotypes into three groups. Based on the results, the high-yielding varieties identified in this study are recommended for cultivation in Baghlan province and can be utilized in breeding programs. For future breeding efforts to develop high-yielding wheat varieties, the number of grains per spike, number of spikes per m², thousand-grain weight, and days to flowering should be prioritized as selection traits.