Genetic diversity analysis for various morphological and quality traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

The present investigation was carried out during 2011-12 in a randomized block design (RBD) with 35 diverse wheat genotypes to assess the genetic diversity for various morphological and quality traits. The analysis of variance for grain yield and its contributing components namely days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, productive tillers, plant height, spike length, spikelets pet spike, grains per spikelet, biological yield, harvest index, 1000 grain weight, grain yield and gluten content showed highly significant differences (at <1% level of significance) among the genotypes under present study. High heritability along with high genetic advance and high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for grain yield (g), biological yield (g), harvest index (%), spike length (cm) and 1000 grain weight (g) indicated substantial contribution of additive gene action in the expression and thus selection would be effective for genetic improvement of these traits for improving grain yield in wheat. On the basis of multivariate analysis, 35 genotypes were grouped into ‘6’ clusters based on genetic divergence (D2 ) value. The compositions of clusters revealed that the Cluster IV contained the highest number of genotypes (9) followed by Cluster II (8), Cluster VI (8) and Cluster III (7). The highest inter cluster values were recorded between cluster III and V (8357.19) followed by cluster IV and V (7513.88), cluster IV and VI (6009.44) and cluster III and VI (5530.40) exhibiting wide genetic diversity. Among different traits, biological yield (32.12%), productive tillers (28.74%), harvest index (26.71%), plant height (24.20%), grain yield (19.23%) and grains per spikelets (14.89%) had maximum contribution to total genetic divergence, therefore may be used as selection parameters in transgressive segregants. Selection of genotypes from the clusters may be used as potential donors for further hybridization programme to develop genotypes with high yield potential in wheat crop.