Selection indices for yield improvement in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

The discriminant-function technique was used to construct selection indices in 48 genotypes of bread wheat (Triticumaestivum L.). Sixty-three selection indices involving grain yield per plant and its five components were constructeusing the discriminant function technique. The efficiency of selection increased with the inclusion of more charactersin the selection index. The index based on four characters viz., grain yield per plant, the number of grains per mainspike, grain weight per main spike and biological yield per plant recorded the highest genetic gain and relativeefficiency. The use of these indices is advocated for selecting high yielding genotypes of bread wheat.