Correlation and path coefficient analysis among yield and yield attributing traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes

To assess correlation and to find out the direct and indirect effect of yield attributing traits on grain yield, thirty wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were experimented at Kamalamai-04, Phant, of Sindhuli district, Nepal. The experiment was laid out in alpha-lattice design with three replications. Thirteen quantitative traits including grain yield of wheat were studied during this study. The grain yield of wheat has significant (P≤0.01) and positive genotypic and phenotypic correlation with number of spikes per meter (0.6**, 0.47**), grains per spike (0.69**, 0.65**), weight of grains per spike (0.69**, 0.61**), thousand kernel weight (0.87**, 0.74**), maturity days (0.5*, 0.47**), above ground mass yield (0.96**, 0.83**) and  harvest index (0.93**, 0.64**) of wheat. The genotypic correlation is higher in magnitude than the phenotypic correlation for almost all the studied traits. Path analysis of genotypic correlation showed a high positive direct effect of plant height (0.75), above ground biomass (0.6), spike length (0.43), and harvest index (0.29) on grain yield of wheat. Hence, for increasing yield of wheat in the breeding program, selection and hybridization can be made more effective and accurate by using those traits that have a significant positive correlation coefficient and direct effect on the grain yield of wheat.