Variability studies for spike and grain characters in wheat under timely and late sown conditions

Abstract

Twenty four and nineteen lines developed for timely and late sown conditions respectively, were evaluatedin RBD with 4 replications and two dates of sowing i.e. 2nd week of November (timely sowing) and 1st weekof December (late sowing). Moderate GCV was recorded for spike length, grains spike-1, grain yield plant-1,spikelet’s spike-1 and grain yield meter-1 (linear) under timely sown conditions, while higher GCV was recordedby grain yield plant-1 and grain yield meter-1 (linear) under late sown condition. This may be due to differentparentage background of the genotypes. The estimates of heritability for all the traits revealed that except forgrains spike-1 heritability estimates increased with the delay in sowing time. Economically important traits likegrain weight spike-1, 1000 grain weight exhibited high estimates for expected genetic advance accompaniedwith high heritability estimate can be improved by hybridization followed by selection. The study conclude that,correlated response obtained in grain yield as a result of selection for different spike and grain characters viz.harvest index, grains spike-1, grain yield plant-1 exerted maximum response to grain yield followed by grainweight spike-1, peduncle length and spikelet’s spike-1. Therefore selection for grain yield can be done throughpeduncle length, spikelet’s spike-1, grains spike-1, grain weight spike-1, grain yield plant-1 and harvest index.