The richness of diversity in a core collection of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Diversity evaluation provides opportunity to assess genetically important distinct traits that will effectively contribute to 
improvement of genotypes. Assessing genetic diversity  in a core collection is key to find out the ways to efficient utilization 
of genetic resource. Wheat cultivars spinning over a century were collected from the Indian Institute of Wheat & Barely 
Research (IIWBR), Karnal, made up of a core collection. The core set of data was analysed by multivariate methods. The 
experimental material consisted of ~100 genotypes which were evaluated in an Augmented Randomized Block Design. 
Quantitative characters like no. of grain per spike, no. of spikelet per spike, test weight and spike length were found to be the 
key yield contributing traits. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis of eight quantitative characters and 
genotypes fall into three principal component and three cluster respectively. Based on these experiment first and third cluster 
genotypes have high associated with PCI and PCIII. These principal components were made by grouping them high yield 
contributing traits. Genotypes in these clusters have higher values for yield contributing traits then the total average of traits.   
Genotypes belonging to superior clusters could be considered to very useful to developing high yielding varieties and other 
breeding activities.