Identification of traits in bread wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) contributing to grain yield through correlation and path coefficient analysis

The association among yield components and their direct and indirect influence on the grain yield (GY) of bread wheat were investigated in 144 advance lines tested in partially balance lattice design during 2002-03. Analysis of variance for individual plant characters revealed the existence of genetic variability among the genotypes for all the characters studied. Genotypic correlation of plant height (PH), biological yield (BY), harvest index (HI), thousand kernel weight (TKW), number of spikes/m2 and hectoliter weight (HLW) were positive and significantly correlated with grain yield (GY) under normal and late planting respectively. However, non-significant correlations were observed for BY and TKW in genotypes planted late. Phenotypic correlation revealed that PH, BY, HI, TKW, number of spikes/m2 and HLW were also positive and significantly associated with GY under normal and late planting respectively. Strong positive and highly significant correlations of GY were detecte