Estimates of Genetic Parameters on Karnal Bunt Resistance in Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L. EM. Thell.)

High heritability estimates of coefficient of infection for Karnal bunt (KB) was observed in cross combinations viz. susceptible x resistant (96.92), resistant x susceptible (95.29) and resistant x resistant (94.37), while, the lowest heritability estimates were found in the cross combination susceptible x susceptible (12.13). Therefore, high heritability in all parental cross combinations except susceptible x susceptible would present a better chance for the selection in this crop through the characters responsible for resistance to KB. The estimates of expected genetic advance as per cent of mean were high for resistance to KB in three parental cross combinations viz. resistant x susceptible (635.49), susceptible x resistant (659.80) and resistant x resistant (1152.98). The cross combinations involving at least one resistant parent (R′ S, S′ R, R′ R) showed high heritability than those involving only susceptible parents. This study demonstrated that resistance to Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) can be improved through progeny selection (120 progenies selected) from crosses of the most resistant genotypes.