Abstract

Trait based study of bread wheat genotypes information under lowland temperature stress situation is limited. The association and analysis of path coefficient were studied in 36 diverse bread wheat genotypes in order to understand the relationship and contribution of seventeen traits towards the grain yield in the area of temperature stress. These field experiments were done in the arrangement of Triple Lattice Design replicated three times at Werer agricultural research center, Afar region in 2017. The data generated from the experiment was laid open to analysis of variance, correlation and path analysis. Analysis of variances of bread wheat genotypes assessed for the traits shown strong significant difference among the genotypes for most characters and significant difference between genotypes for total tillers and for fertility of spike and non-significant difference for days to emergence. The study of correlation suggested that spike fertility, thousand kernels weight, biomass yield per hectare and harvest index were the most essential characters which possessed positive and highly significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation with grain yield. The phenotypic analysis of path coefficient indicated that harvest index and biomass yield exerted highest positive direct effect on grain yield. Similarly path coefficient analysis at genotypic level showed harvest index exhibited highest positive direct effect on grain yield per hectare followed by biomass yield. Therefore, from the present outcomes it has been observed important traits which influence positive associated and direct effect on grain yield. These study suggest that harvest index and biomass yield per hectare can be used as selection standards in breeding to improve bread wheat genotypes with high yielding under stress condition.

Keywords: Bread wheat; Correlation; Path coefficient; Yield component