Analysis of Genetic Variability Among Bread Wheat (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Triticum aestivum&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; L.) Genotypes for Growth, Yield and Yield Components in Bore District, Oromia Regional State

Obsa Chimdesa

doi:10.11648/j.aff.20170606.12

Abstract

In Ethiopia, a number of improved bread wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) varieties have been released by different research centres. All of these varieties were, however, not evaluated in Bore District for growth, yield and yield components which are necessary for identification of adaptable varieties for this major wheat growing District. Field experiments was conducted in 2013/14 cropping season by utilizing 21 released varieties and 4 promising lines using Randomized Complete Block Design where genotypes were replicated three times and 14 characters were recorded. Results of the analysis of variance revealed that genotypes were differed significantly for all characters studied. Genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) ranged from 4.59 (days to maturity) to 13.76% (grain yield per hectare), while phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) ranged between 5.03 (days to maturity) to 20.85% (grain yield per hectare). Heritability in broad sense and genetic advance as percent of mean (GAM) ranged from 33.33% (Tillers per plant) to 84.67% (Peduncle length) and 8.66% (Days to maturity) to 18.74% (grain yield per hectare), respectively. Grain yield per hectare was positively correlated with biological yield per plot and harvest index, but was negatively correlated with peduncle length both at genotypic and phenotypic level. The computed path coefficient for yield showed that days to maturity, number of productive tillers, and biological yield per plot, harvest index, and spike length had positive direct effect, while days to heading and grain filling period, had high negative direct effect at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Generally, it has been observed the presence of variability among the genotypes studied and 18.74% grain yield gain is possible by exerting 5% selection intensity which can be exploited to improve yield in the District.

Highlights

Attainment of food security and protection of the environment are two of the greatest challenges facing human kind today
Non-significant mean square for this character was reported on bread wheat by [29].The results of the present study show that the harvest index for most of the studied characters was >0.40 indicating that genotypes had high yields compared to the biological yield as harvest index (HI) is the proportion of grain yield to biological yield
The results of this study demonstrate that genotypes with higher 1000 seed weight would produce more grain yield than those with lower 1000 seed weight

Summary

Introduction

Attainment of food security and protection of the environment are two of the greatest challenges facing human kind today. The role of more productive, profitable agricultural production in fostering food security, generating local employment, raising local incomes, and alleviating poverty in developing world, where it serve as an economic source is incomparable to other economic sectors [2]. Eight cereal crops viz., wheat, rice, maize, barley, oat, rye sorghum and millets collectively accounts 99% of the world cereal production [4]. This true for Ethiopia where the five major cereal crops; tef, maize, wheat, sorghum and barley have the largest share of cultivated land (92.72%) and production (95.8%) [5]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion