Genetic variability, character association and path analysis of yield and its component characters in durum wheat

Genetic variability, character association and path analysis between yield and its contributing characters were studied in forty genotypes of durum wheat. Hignly significant differences among genotypes for all the characters studied. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation coupled with high heritability and high genetic advance as % mean for spike length, grain yield, harvest index and grains per spike indicate the predominance of additive gene effects in controlling these characters. Correlation path analysis revealed that biological yield and harvest index were the most important characters for realizing improvement in grain yield.