| Results and Discussion Mean measurements of the parents and their F2 crosses for four quantitative traits are given in Table 1. The estimates of broad sense heritability and genetic advance was considerably high for all the characters and the crosses. Transgressive segregations with high heritability (90.68 to 95.85%) coupled with considerable genetic advance (12.09 to 13.77%) for yield per plant for cross HD-2009 x Pak-70 and Z.A.-77 x Macozari indicate additive gene action (SOOMRO & LARIK 1981) and reveal bright chances for selection of high potential segregates in early generation (UDDIN & JOARDER 1986). F2 crosses displayed transgressive segregation for spikes per plant, spikelets per spike and grains per spike. High heritability (78.16 to 88.39%) coupled with considerable genetic advance of 8.07 to 14.38% in cross HD-2009 x Pak-70 indicate that additive gene effects are important for spikelets per spike and grains per spike respectively. Therefore, these characters could be manipulated effectively through selection in this cross combination and one could expect potential gain in early generation of selection (LARIK et al. 1987). Spikes per plant also displayed a quantitative pattern of inheritance. Transgressive segregates for greater number of spikes per plant accompanied by moderate to high heritability (ranging from 55.10 to 84.99%) in both crosses reveal good chances of selection for high potential segregates (Table 1). The estimates of correlation coefficients are presented in Table 2. The traits spikes per plant, spikelets per spike and grains per spike exhibited highly significant (r values ranging from +0.420** to +0.984**) positive association with grain yield and among themselves which indicate that selection based on these traits could be more rewarding and will equally improve the grain yield. These results agree with KUMBHAR et al. (1983) and LARIK (1979) who reported significant correlation of yield components with grain yield in wheat. On the basis of correlation analysis and other genetic parameters, the present investigation therefore, suggests that the grains per spike, spikes per plant and spikelets per spike are the important yield components. Therefore, maximum weightage should be given to these traits in a selection programme in accelerating the yield in wheat crop. References KUMBHAR, M.B., A.S. LARIK, H.M.I., HAFIZ & M.J. RIND. 1983. Inter-relationship of polygenic traits affecting grain yield in Triticum aestivum L. Wheat Inf. Serv. 57: 42-45. LARIK, A.S. 1979. Correlation and path coefficient analysis of yield components in mutants of Triticum aestivum L. Ibid 50: 36-40. LARIK, A. S., H. M. I. HAFIZ & Y. A. AL-SAHEAL. 1987. Genetic analysis of some yield parameters in barley. J. Coll. Sci. King Saud Univ. 18(2): 129-135. SHAHID MASSOD, M. & A.R. CHAUDHRY. 1987. Heritability estimates and genetic advance values of some agronomic characters involving exotic and indegenous wheat varieties. Pak. J. Agric. Res. 8(1): 7-11. SOOMRO, B. & A.S. LARIK. 1981. Inheritance and correlation of pod and seed characters in peanuts. Genet. Agr. 35: 263-275. UDDIN, M. M. & O. I. JOARDER. 1986. Genetic architecture of heading date, fertile ear number and yield of wheat. Pak. J. Agric. Res. 7(1): 1-9. |
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