GENETIC VARIABILITY STUDIES IN WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)

The present experiment was conducted by using thirty-six wheat genotypes and four checks at Wheat and Maize Research Unit, College of Agriculture, VNMKV, Parbhani.This investigation was carried out during Rabi 2023-2024 in randomized block design with two replications.A set of forty wheat genotypes were used to estimate genetic variability, correlation coefficient and path coefficient for yield and yield attributing characters.A sufficient rang of variation was observed for yield components.GCV and PCV was recorded highest for grain yield per plot.High heritability coupled with high genetic advance for grain yield per plot, harvest index, biological yield per plot, number of productive tillers per plant, spike length, days to 50% heading and spike length.The genetic correlation coefficients were found to be higher in magnitude then that of phenotypic correlation coefficients for most of the traits under experiment, which clearly indicated the presence of inherent association among various characters.The genotypic correlation is the present study observed significant positive association for grain yield contributing characters viz., number of productive tillers per plant, number of grains per spike, biological yield per plot and harvest index.Thus, selection for these characters would directly follow the immediate improvement of the grain yield for wheat crop.Number of productive tillers per plant, number of grains per spike, biological yield per plot, 1000 grain weight and harvest index had positive direct effect on grain yield per plot.Henceforward, these traits must be given weightage in selection for improvement of wheat in future breeding programmes.