Association analysis of some drought related characters in hexaploid spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The association among yield components and their direct and indirect influence on the grain yield of wheat were investigated. 24 breeding lines were tested in a randomized complete block experiment design with three replications. According to the results the phenotypic correlation among the traits and their path coefficient were estimated. Positive significant correlation coefficients were obtained for association between survival rate treatment I, III, leaf venation, stomatal frequency, osmotic pressure, flag leaf area and number of tillers per plant with grain yield per plant at both phenotypic and genotypic levels. Negatively significant correlation between hygrophilic colloids and epidermal cell size with grain yield per plant was obtained at phenotypic and genotypic levels. Path coefficient was also computed to estimate the contribution of character to the yield. Path coefficient analysis revealed that flag leaf area, root/shoot ratio and survival rate II had the highest positive direct effects on grain yield, while hygrophilic colloids and osmotic pressure had negative direct effect on grain yield. These results thus obtained suggested that flag leaf area is an important component of yield and hence needs special attention in selection strategies.