Study of Genetic Variation in Durum Wheat Genotypes for Agronomic Traits under Rainfed Conditions
Subject Areas : Journal of Crop EcophysiologyA. Soleymanifard, 1 , R. Naseri 2
1 - Faculty Member, Department of Agriculture, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Ph.D Student in Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran
Keywords: Cluster analysis, Path analysis, Drought stress, durum wheat, Step wise regression,
Abstract :
To evaluate genetic variation for some yield related traits in 16 durum wheat genotypes under rainfed conditions an experiment based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of Ilam, Iran, during growing season of 2006-2007. Traits under study were: plant height, peduncle length, spike length, grains per spike, 1000 grain weight, spike per m2, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index. The results showed that genotypes were significantly different as to the traits studied. The step-wise regression indicated that 75 percent of variation in grain yield under drought stress is explained by spike per m2, 1000 grain weight and plant height. Path analysis of coefficients showed that the direct effects of number of spike per m2 and 1000 grain weight on grain yield were high and positive. According to cluster analysis the genotypes were classified into 3 clusters. Mean comparisons of traits indicated that genotypes belonging to group 2 were superior in grain yield, spike per m2 and 1000 grain weight which are important traits durum wheat breeding programs to be considered in drought stress.