Pattern of variation for seed characters and variability for morphological and yield traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In the present study, 26 bread wheat germplasm lines were evaluated for seed physical characters and morphological traits. There was broad variation for seed physical characters. Substantial variation was observed for morphological traits including days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), spike length (cm) and seed characters like, 1000 grain weight (g), seed length (mm), seed breadth (mm) and yield/ha (kg). The estimates of phenotypic variance were higher than the corresponding estimates of genotypic variance for all the traits under study thereby indicating the influence of environment in the expression of these traits. The magnitude of phenotypic and genotypic variation was low (<10%) for traits days to flowering, days to maturity, seed length and seed breadth whereas it was moderate i.e., (10–30%) for traits days to germination, plant height, spike length, 1000 grain height and seed yield. The high heritability coupled with high genetic advance (as percent of mean) for the traits viz., number of grains/spike, days to germination and yield/ha, moderate values for genetic advance for traits days to flowering, plant height, spike length, 1000 grain weight and seed length, while days to maturity and seed breadth indicate low values. Seed yield (kg) was significantly correlated with 1000-grain weight, grains per spike and spike length. The information on morphological data of wheat germplasm lines generated is useful to plant breeders to decide whether improvement of a particular trait is possible through direct selection or by generating desirable recombinants.