Assessment of genetic variability, heritability and genetics advance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under normal and heat stress condition

One ninety diverse wheat genotypes were evaluated for genetic varaibilty, heritability and genetic advance under norrmal and heat stress environment at the Research Farm of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut U. P. (India). The genotypes were grown in simple augmented block design and data were collected on fifteen morpho-agronomic characters. Analysis of observed data showed that the mean squares due to treatments for all the traits in both the environment were highly significant. GCV and PCV were highest for canopy temperature depression, grain weight/spike, biological yield/plant, grain yield/plant, tiller number./plant and lowest for days to anthesis. Heritability (bs) estimates were high for canopy temperature depression (CTD), followed by biological yield/plant, grain weight/ spike, grain number. /spike, 1000- grain weight, grain yield/plant, tiller number./plant and lowest for days to heading and days to anthesis in case of both environments. The estimates of genetic advance (GA) were highest for canopy temperature depression followed by grain weight/spike, biological yield/plant, grain yield/spike, tiller number./plant, grain number./spike and lowest for days to heading and days to anthesis under both ( numberrmal and heat stress) environment. This study suggests that the presence of adequate genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for these traits under norrmal and heat stress environment is suitable for breeding programs and crop improvement.