Genetic variability, correlation and path analysis in durum wheat germplasm (Triticum durum Desf)

19%, 52%, 35%, 24%, 52%, 81%, 21%, 30%, 23% and 50% for days to maturity, number of spikelets per spike, number of kernels per spike, number of tillers per plant, spike length, thousand grain weight, harvest index, grain yield, vitreousness and flour protein content, respectively. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for thousand grain weight, spike length and number of spikelets per spike suggesting selection for these traits would give good response. Biological yield (rp=0.89), number of tillers per plant (rp=0.59) and thousand grain weight (rp=0.51) had high degree of positive association with grain yield. Phenotypic path analysis described that biological yield (0.679) and harvest index (0.48) have direct contribution towards grain yield. It is suggested that these characters can be considered as selection criteria in improving the grain yield of durum wheat genotypes.