Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes for Morpho-physiological Traits along with Grain Fe and Zn Content

Character association studies help in assessing the relationship among yield and its components to enhance the selection utility. In view of this, the present research was carried out for assessing correlation and path coefficients among 30 bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes using fifteen quantitative parameters. Correlation analysis demonstrated a noteworthy positive relationship of days to fifty per cent flowering, number of tillers/plant, flag leaf area, spike length, plant height, chlorophyll content, relative water content, number of grains/ ear, thousand-grain weight, days to maturity and harvest index, with grain yield per plant at both the phenotypic and genotypic level except canopy temperature which showed a significant negative relationship. Path coefficient analysis revealed that plant height, flag leaf area, relative water content and grain per ear had the maximum positive direct effect on grain yield. Hence, the present investigation can be helpful in executing a reliable selection of parental lines based on these above mentioned traits in addition to developing high-yielding varieties for further breeding programme.