GENETIC ANALYSIS FOR SOME PHENOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS IN WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) UNDER TWO DIFFERENT SOWING WINDOWS

Major effect of climate change can be seen in developing countries like Pakistan that make them food insecure. Grain yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is low as it is affected by erratic weather conditions. Latest development of wheat genotypes applicable for late planting is one of the prime objectives of wheat breeders. Keeping in view the climatic conditions of Pakistan, current investigations were conducted to figure out the inheritance pattern and extent of variations using generation mean analysis. For the aforementioned study the two genotypes Miraj 2008 and Punjab 2011 were evaluated along with following generations i.e. F-1, F-2, BC1 and BC2 in normal and late sowing trial in Faisalabad, Pakistan. The highest reduction percentage was observed in grain weight per spike (-33.6%). The inheritance of all traits revealed complex inheritance due to the involvement of non-allelic interactions. The traits like days to heading and days to maturity had both additive, additive x additive i.e. fixable and additive x dominant non fixable genetic effects. So, selection in later generation would be fruitful for these traits when combinations are fixed. Heritability estimates for narrow sense was also determined. Low to moderate heritability was depicted under late sowing conditions.