​​Genetic Variability of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Different Agro-climatic Zone of Western Himalayan Region of Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Triticum aestivum L. (Wheat) is vital grain crop used globally as a staple food. The increasing population is posing a great challenge for agriculture sector especially to secure the availability of wheat. In Pakistan, from the last few years’ wheat productivity has improved but it is still far less than other countries. Its low productivity is attributed to various factors like weeds, pests, diseases, soil fertility and moisture. To overcome these obstacles, there is a dire need to assess the genetic variability of wheat by rapid and reliable methods. Observations for nine morphological traits were noted and analysis was done at 0.05 probability level. Methods: To study the genetic variability in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes a field experiment was done during 2017 and 2018 at two different locations Rara and Danna of Muzaffarabad. Hundred wheat genotypes were investigated by using simple lattice design with 4 replications. Analysis of the observations for nine morphological traits was carried out at 0.05 probability. Result: High values for phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were noted for grain yield (16.44 and 17.07%) and (14.75 and 15.94%) at both locations, separately. High heritability were obtained for plant height (98.80%) harvest index (96.84), thousand grain weight (95.47), spike length (94.91) and grain yield (92.80) at Rara and plant height (98.09), thousand grain weight (95.66), harvest index (93.32) and number of grain (91.28) at Danna. High genetic advance values were noted for number of tiller (53.45 and 42.89) at both locations. It is concluded from this research that estimation of the variability, heritability and genetic advance in the wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) is important in the plant breeding, because it might be used for improvement of novel varieties by breeders of wheat at relevant location.