Association analysis for yield attributing traits and micronutrients content in F2 population of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present study was undertaken with the objective to detect an association between the yield attributing traits and micronutrients content in F2 population obtained from two crosses namely cross- I (HPYT 461 × HD 2733) and cross-II (BHU 31 × HD 2967) in wheat for identifying high yielding and high micronutrients containing lines. The two F2 populations obtained from these crosses (made in Rabi 2018) were evaluated for 13 quantitative traits including yield and micronutrient traits during Rabi 2020 in compact family block design with 3 replications at Research farm, RPCAU, Pusa and data were recorded on individual plant basis on fifty plants per replication of each cross for all the traits. The estimation of micronutrient in wheat grains was done by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry at Harvest-plus Division, ICRISAT, Hyderabad. The analysis of association between the grain yield and micronutrient content was established through correlation and path analysis. In both the F2 population grain yield per plant exhibited significant and positive phenotypic and genotypic correlation with harvest index and positive and significant genotypic correlation with spike length. Further, a negative correlation was observed between grain yield and grain Zinc and Iron content while the latter have positive correlation among themselves. The phenotypic path matrix in both the cross showed that number of grains per spikes, harvest index, spike length, number of tillers per plant, days to maturity and days to 50 per cent flowering have direct positive effect on yield while grain Zinc content, grain Iron content and chlorophyll content have direct negative effect on yield.