Abstract:
Yield and yield contributing traits were studied in sixty four bread wheat genotypes using a simple lattice design
in order to find out the genetic contribution of different characters towards grain yield at Kulumsa Agricultural
Research Center during 2014/15 main cropping season. The genotypes showed significant variation for all the
traits studied except for biomass yield ha-1. Results showed that grain yield had positive and significant
correlation with 1000 kernel weight, harvest index and hectoliter weight at both levels. Days to 50% heading
exerted highly significant and positive association with days to maturity (0.79**), biomass yield per plot
(0.55**), number of productive tillers per plant (0.47**) and number of grains per plant (0.43**) at genotypic
level. Days to 50% heading had significant positive phenotypic correlation with days to 75% maturity and
significant negative phenotypic association with grain filling period. It had non-significant association with the
rest of the traits. Thousand kernel weight had positive and highly significant phenotypic correlation with harvest
index (0.48**), hectoliter weight (0.51**) and grain yield (0.51**). Harvest index showed positive and highly
significant correlation with 1000 kernel weight (0.48**), hectoliter weight (0.41**) and grain yield per hectare
(0.86**) and non-significant association with the rest traits at phenotypic level irrespective of direction.
Maximum positive direct effect was exhibited by days to 75% maturity (1.189) followed by harvest index
(1.057). This suggests the correlation revealed true relationship and direct selection through these characters is
effective.
