ANIL KUMAR GUSAIWAL*, S. S. DHANDA, RENU MUNJAL AND NEELAM R. YADAV
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India *(e-mail : agusaiwal@gmail.com)
(Received : May 29, 2019; Accepted : July 19, 2019)
ABSTRACT
Genetic variability is a crucial tool for improvement of grain yield in wheat. The analysis of variance of 96 RIL’s revealed significant differences for all the 11 characters studied under both timely and late sown conditions. The magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than their respective genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits over the environment which indicated that change in environment had greater effect on the performance of RIL’s. High estimates of PCV and GCV were noted for grain yield per plant, harvest index and biological yield per plant in timely sown condition, however, in late sown condition, it was recorded for grain yield per plant, harvest index and 100-grain weight indicating these characters were amenable for improvement by selection. High estimates of heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean under timely sown condition were recorded for biological yield per plant, number of grains per spike, 100-grain weight and grain yield per plant, whereas in late sown condition, it was recorded for number of grains per spike, 100-grain weight and biological yield per plant. Heritability values may vary from environment to environment. There is no consistent tendency of increase or decrease in heritability from timely sown to late sown conditions.
Key words : Genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, wheat