Genotype- Environment Interaction, Heritability Estimates and Interrelationships for Some Traits in Wheat PDF

Keywords

grain yield, wheat, temperature stress, agriculture

Abstract

Four experiments were carried out during the fall-spring seasons of 1978 to 1982 to estimate the genotype-environment interaction, heritability and interrelationships for grain yield, duration of vegetative and grain filling periods, grain filling rate, kernel weight, and test weight in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Data collected from 27 cultivars grown in a randomized complete block within each season were subjected to analysis of variance, and estimates of variance components were obtained. Heritability estimates for each trait and correlation coefficients among different variables were also obtained. Genotype x season interactions, though highly significant, were relatively smaller than the seasonal effects. Narrow-sense heritability estimates for the duration of vegetative and grain filling periods, and kernel weight indicated mostly additive effects. Other traits showed larger non-additive proportions. Genotypes with long vegetative periods had higher grain filling rates and yielded better than those with longer grain filling durations. Under the conditions of frequent high temperature stress during the grain filling period, it is suggested that cultivars with moderate or delayed heading and high grain filling rates exhibit high yielding ability in the Near East environment.