Association and path analysis for agro-morphological traits among diverse wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm lines for Northern Hill Zone under rainfed conditions

The present investigation entitled ‘Genetic diversity analysis for agro-morphological traits and disease resistance under rainfed conditions in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)’ was conducted at Rice and Wheat Research Centre, Malan and the Molecular Cytogenetics & Tissue Culture Laboratory of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CSK HPKV, Palampur. The objectives were to assess the diversity amongst wheat genotypes using various agro-morphological traits and molecular markers, and screening of genotypes for disease resistance at seedling (yellow rust and brown rust) and adult plant (yellow rust and powdery mildew) stage. The experimental material comprised of 36 wheat genotypes along with four checks viz., HPW 368 (Him Palam Gehun 2), HS 562, Agra Local and LWH (Local Wheat Hango) were evaluated for different agro-morphological traits in α-Randomized Block Design with three replications during rabi 2021-22. Sufficient genetic variability was observed for all the traits viz., days to 50% flowering, flag leaf area, peduncle length, plant height, tillers per plant, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, biological yield per plant, grain yield per plant and harvest index except days to maturity, suggesting the scope of selection for these traits. Grain yield per plant showed significant and positive correlation with flag leaf area, tillers per plant, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, biological yield per plant and harvest index. Also, biological yield per plant and harvest index were observed as the best selection indices for increasing grain yield owing to high direct and indirect effects of these traits in path analysis. This study suggests that biological yield per plant and harvest index can be used as selection criteria in breeding study to improve the high yielding wheat genotypes.