Genetic diversity for grain size and its association with yield components in wheat

Development of plant material with desirable gram size and high yielding characteristics is a major confront for researchers. Wheat crop will face assorted challenges as the population of the world is going to be increased at alarming rate. So the food security for increasing population mainly depends upon the potentials to achieve high yield with a certain enviable grain traits. One of the sustainable and economically feasible choice for increasing crop efficiency and stability is the crop genetic improvement for high yielding genotypes. The shape, size and density of grain are the vital constituents as important for governing the high yield, market value as well as paying more inf1uence on milling parameters. Grain size and yield traits are complex quantitative parameters governed by numerous genes and also largely affected by environmental factors. To accomplish this objective both the conventional and molecular approaches can play considerable function. In the present study, 50 genotypes with 2 replications including a check variety (Millet-11) were sown in the field following RCBD under normal conditions for evaluation of high yielding genotypes along with desirable grain size. Data were recorded on morphological traits like nag leaf area, days to anthesis, days to maturity, productive tillers, spikelets per spike, ear length, grain size, grains per spike, grain weight per spike, 1000-grain weights. and grain yield were subjected to statistical analysis. ANOVA results revealed that significant variability was present in the genotypes. Association of grain size with different morphological parameters was analyzed and the genotypes 140, 141, 150 and 138 had desirable contribution in grain size, and were evaluated via biplot analysis. Simple correlation was computed among grain size contributed traits and yield contributing traits as well. Insignificant association of grain size with grain weight per spike, thousand grain weight and number of grains per spike was observed. Positive and significant association of grain size with grain yield, days to anthesis, days to maturity, spikelets per spike, plant height and flag leaf area was observed.