Assessment of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell) under salt affected soil

Analysis of variance for augmented design was carried out for eleven characters to test the significance of differences among various treatments. The variation due to blocks was highly significant for days to 50% flowering, flag leaf area, days to maturity, biological yield per plant, harvest index and 1000-grain weight however the differences among the blocks were not significant for remaining characters. The high estimates of phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic (GCV) coefficients of variation was observed in case of flag leaf area (PCV=31.81%, GCV=25.68%) followed by grain yield per plant (PCV=27.37, GCV=21.75). The highest estimate of heritability in broad sense was recorded by days to 50% flowering (84.00%) followed by test weight (78.99%), harvest index (75.88%). The highest value of genetic advance was shown by grain yield per plant (g) (35.60%). If the heritability estimates are high in a narrow sense, it means the character is largely governed by additive genes and selection for improvement of such character would be rewarding.