Estimation of heritability and genetic advance in F^sub 3^ populations of wheat

Knowledge of inheritance of important plant traits is the basis of selection program. To check genetic variability and transmission pattern of essential plant characters, a research was conducted comprising 8 parents and 8 cross combinations at the research fields of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, during 2014-15. The experiment was laid out using randomized complete block design with three repetitions. Data were recorded on yield and other important plant traits. Sufficient variations were detected for all the studied traits showing adequate scope of crop improvement. Traits like flag leaf area (0.82), plant height (0.81), fertile tillers plant^sup -1^ (0.83), biological yield (0.90), grains spike^sup -1^ (0.93) and grain yield plant-1 (0.90) manifested high heritability estimates with high genetic advance (14.15, 13.48, 4.57, 28.28, 21.64 and 15.7, respectively) suggested that they were under additive gene control. We recommend Tatara x Janbaz, AUP-5008 x Janbaz, Saleem-2000 x Siren, Saleem-2000 x Janbaz and AUP-5008 x Siren to be further assessed in cultivar development programs.