Grain filling duration as a means for increasing yield in spring wheat

Grain filling duration, the period between heading date and physiological maturity, plays an important role in determining the final grain yield in spring wheat. The variability for grain filling duration and selected agronomic traits was studied in 72 spring wheat genotypes. There was wide genetic variation in the genotypes for the traits examined. It was observed that earlier heading lines tended to have longer grain filling duration as compared to later heading genotypes. Genotypes having shorter grain filling duration were identified for further utilization.The grain filling duration was significantly correlated with grain yield and its components, kernels per spike and kernel mass. The results suggest that increasing grain yield in spring wheat was possible through breeding for grain filling parameters.