Forty nine genotypes of wheat were studied for generating scientific information on nature and magnitude of genetic variability and diversity for designing breeding programme. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design in three replications. The data were recorded on days to 50% flowering, plant height, peduncle length, number of productive tillers per plant, days to maturity, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, biological yield per plant, grain yield per plant, harvest index and gluten content. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters under study. The highest estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were observed for grain yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for grain yield per plant. Based on D 2 -Statistics, 49 genotypes were grouped into eight clusters. The highest inter-cluster distance was found between cluster VII and VIII followed by III and VII. This indicates that genotypes included in these clusters possess wide genetic diversity. Grain yield per plant (31.46%) showed highest contribution towards genetic divergence; therefore, this character was major determinant of genetic diversity. On the basis of divergence and cluster mean it may be suggested that maximum heterosis and good recombinants could be obtained in crosses between genotypes of cluster VIII, VII and III in varietal improvement programme. Thus, crosses between the genetically diverse genotypes of cluster VIII with genotypes HUW 655, HP 1937, DBW 88 and HD 3058 and cluster VII with genotypes like HP 1938, HUW 656, K1006, DBW83, DBW 84, K1004, UP2822 and NW5050 are expected to exhibit high heterosis and are also likely to produce new recombinants with desired traits.

Forty nine genotypes of wheat were evaluated for 12 quantitative and one quality traits during 2010-11. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications at Crop Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut. The mean, range, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability in broad sense, genetic advance, correlation and path analysis were analyzed. Plant height, number of productive tillers per plant, spike length, 1000 grain weight, biological yield per plant and harvest index were significant and positive correlated with grain yield per plant. The phenotypic and genotypic path coefficients exhibited high positive direct contribution of number of productive tillers per plant, plant height, harvest index and 1000 grain weight towards grain yield.The positive indirect effect of plant height on grain yield was registered via days to maturity, number of spikelets per spike, 1000 grain weight and biological yield per plant. Number of productive tillers per plant revealed contribution on grain yield via number of grains per spike, 1000 grain weight, biological yield per plant and harvest index revealing that indirect selection of these characters would be effective in improving grain yield per plant. Higher genotypic coefficient of variance along with high heritability and genetic advance for grain yield per plant, plant height, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike and 1000 grain weight would also be of great use for indirect selection for improvement in yield per plant.

Abstract:The present study was conducted to estimate the gentic components and regression analysis for grain yield and various morphological traits in bread wheat involving 10 parents and their 45 F 1 s (half diallel) during 2012-13 and 2013-14. Significant additive (D) and dominance (H 1 ) variance for the traits indicated that expression of these traits is control by both additive and dominance gene action. Average degree of dominance (H 1 /D) 1/2 were more than unity for the traits (peduncle length, flag leaf area, productive tillers, biological yield, grain yield, harvest index) indicating the preponderance of over dominance gene action. The estimates of h 2 were positive and significant for days to ear emergence, peduncle length, productive tillers, biological yield and grain yield indicated dominance of genetic components in F 1 s. Positive and significant values of F were estimated for days to ear emergence, days to 50% flowering, spike length, flag leaf area and grain yield in F 1 s indicating the preponderance of dominance and positive genes in the parents involved. The theoretical value (0.25) of (H 2 /4H 1 ) for all the traits indicated asymmetrical distribution of positive and negative genes. The proportion of dominant and recessive alleles indicated presence of dominant alleles in the parents. The traits showing more than 30% narrow sanse heritability could be rewarding for further improvement in grain yield in bread wheat. Regression analysis indicated that the traits (days to ear emergence, days to 50% flowering, peduncle length, flag leaf area, productive tillers, harvest index, biological yield and grain yield) control by over dominance type of gene action. The parent RAJ 4246 contained maximum dominant genes for days to ear emergence and days to 50% flowering; HD 2733 for spike length and flag leaf area and HD 2824 for productive tillers, biological yield and grain yield used as donors in multiple traits breeding programme to develop high yielding wheat genotypes.

Forty five crosses derived from 10 diverse genotypes using diallel fashion were evaluated in 3-RBD for combining ability. Significant differences among treatments, parents, crosses and parent vs crosses were observed for all the traits studied. The results from the present study revealed that three parents viz., K 612, HUW 648 and WCW 95-1 were found to be good general combiners due to their high general combining ability effect.

Thirty genotypes of forage sorghum were studied for generating information on nature and magnitude of genetic variability and diversity for designing breeding programme. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design in three replications. The data were recorded on days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf breadth, leaf length, leaf area, stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids, protein content and green fodder yield. Analysis of variance revealed a substantial amount of variability among the genotypes for all the characters under study, indicated a wide spectrum of variability among the genotypes. Highest estimates of the phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation were observed for plant height, leaf breadth, leaves per plant, leaf stem ratio and green fodder yield. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for plant height, leaf area, stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf stem ratio and green fodder yield. Based on D 2 -Statistics, 30 genotypes were grouped into six clusters. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster III and VI followed by IV and VI, indicating genotypes included in these clusters had wide genetic diversity. Genetic divergence and cluster mean indicates maximum heterosis and good recombinants may be achieved in crosses between genotypes of clusters III, IV and VI in varietal improvement programme. Thus, crossing between genetically diverse genotypes of cluster III with genotypes CSV 15, PC 1001, SPV 462, PC 3, SSV 84, PC 8 and cluster VI with genotype HJ 513 are expected to exhibit high heterosis and good recombinants with desired traits.