Heritability estimation for morpho yield traits in commercial varieties of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present investigations regarding analysis of the variance, mean performance and heritability was carried out at the experimental area of Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam during 2014-15, for the purpose of estimating heritability for various quantitative traits in commercially grown wheat varieties, wheat varieties were included Amber, Benazir, Sundar, Sassuai, Sunehri and Bhittai were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Traits studied were days to 75% maturity, number of productive tillers, spike length (cm), grains spike-1, seed index (g), harvest index % and yield grain plant-1. The observed genotypes showed highly significant difference for all the traits recorded. The variety Benazir proved to be early variety by taking lowest days to 75% maturity. The same variety produced highest number of productive tillers and grain yield plant-1. The variety Bhittai gave maximum number for grains spike-1, seed index and harvest index. Sunheri gave maximum value for total biomass plant1, in terms of spike length; the variety Sassue produced longest spikes. As per major findings, the results indicated that high heritability and genetic advance was observed for all the traits recorded; however, genetic advance was low for traits like yield plant-1, total biomass and harvest index. Keywords:  Spring wheat; Heritability; Morpho-yield; Commercial; Quantitative traits http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2017.60063