Correlation and path coefficient analysis in bread wheat under drought stress and normal conditions

This paper describes the association, direct and indirect effects of morphological traits under drought stress and irrigated conditions. Significant mean squares among crosses were obtained for all characters under irrigation as well as drought stress. Positive and significant correlation were observed between grain yield per plant and flag leaf area, specific flag leaf weight, tillers per plant, peduncle length, spike length, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain weight of mother shoot, biomass per plant and harvest index. Negative and significant correlation, was noted for days to heading and grain yield per plant. Positive direct effects were exhibited for specific flag leaf weight, days to heading, tillers per plant, spikelets per spike, grain weight of mother shoot, biomass per plant and harvest index on grain yield while maximum indirect effects were observed through grain weight of mother shoot on grain yield for flag leaf area, days to heading, peduncle length, spike length, grains per spike, 1000- grain weight, biomass per plant and harvest index under irrigated conditions. In case of drought stress conditions, grain yield was positively and significantly correlated with flag leaf area, specific flag leaf weight, plant height, peduncle length, spike length, grains per spike, 1000- grain weight, grain weight of mother shoot, biomass per plant and harvest index. Similar to irrigated conditions days to heading has also negative and significant correlation with grain yield. Positive direct effects were observed for leaf venation, flag leaf area, days to heading, plant height, spike length, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, biomass per plant and harvest index where as positive indirect effects through biomass per plant on grain yield for leaf venation, plant height, spike length, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain weight of mother shoot were observed under drought stress conditions. It is suggested that direct selection could be made for days to heading, tillers per plant, spikelets per spike, grain weight of mother shoot, biomass per plant and harvest index for the improvement of grain yield per plant and indirect selection through grain weight of mother shoot for spike length, grains per spike 1000-grain weight under irrigated conditions. Under drought stress conditions selection could be made for leaf venation, flag leaf area, days to heading, plant height, spike length, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, biomass per plant and harvest index and indirect selection via biomass per plant for leaf venation, plant height, spike length, grains per spike, 1000- grain weight, and grain weight of mother shoot.