Genetic Expression of Yield Ability in Wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) under Sulphydryl Enriched Biophysio-Environment

Abstract

The effect of thiourea (TU), a sulphydryl compound was assessed in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) via soil application treatments. The effect was assessed during rabi 2007–2008, 2008–2009 and 2009–2010. The four soil treatments (0, 5, 10 and 20 Kg/ha TU) were combined with four varieties, that is, Raj 1482, Raj 1555, Raj 3077 and PBW 343). These 16 treatments (four soil x four varieties) were arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with four replicates. Results showed that all the four varieties of wheat differ significantly for yield and yield attributes indicating genetic differences among the varieties. However, the interaction component of varieties with different doses of TU was found to be non-significant. This indicated non-differential response of TU with different wheat genotypes. Thus, response of TU was similarly effective irrespective of wheat varieties. Soil application of TU at 5 and 10 kg/ha tended to increase all of the yield components: plant height, ears/m row, ear length, seeds/ear, TW, harvest index, and grain yield. While the straw yield showed a decrease trend with the application of TU. Decrease in straw yield, although marginal was statistically insignificant. Soil application of TU at 10 kg/ha significantly increased harvest index and grain yield. TU at 10 kg/ha significantly increased the harvest index by 10.11%, albeit at 20 kg/ha only marginally (4.75). Furthermore, application of TU at 10 kg/ha significantly increased the grain yield. However, TU at 5 and 20 kg/ha increased only the grain yield slightly over control, but as compared with TU at 10 kg/ha there was a significant reduction at 20 kg/ha. TU at 10 kg/ha signifi cantly increased grain yield by 8.0%, whereas TU at 10 kg had benefi cial effects on the crop, 20 kg/ha applied TU proved largely ineffective possibly because of growth inhibitory effects.