Growth Performance, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Grown in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria

1Mustafa, A. A., 1Saquib M. and 2Aminu D.

1Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Science, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
2Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

*Corresponding author’s Email: mohammadsaquib941@gmail.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.131211


ABSTRACT

Thirty bread wheat genotypes were taken up to evaluate their performance, heritability and genetic advance estimates. These genotypes were laid in a randomized complete design with three replications, plot size (3m x 2m) was measured and seeds were drilled at 30cm row to row. Fertilizer was applied at the rate of 100kg N, 40kg each P2O5 and K2O per hectare. The experiment was conducted during the 2018/2019 cool harmattan season; seeds were sown on November 26th, 2018 and while the crop was harvested on March 2019 under irrigated condition. Results obtained from the experiment revealed significant variations for days to 50% heading, plant height, spike length, spikelets per spike, and grain yield. . Early heading genotypes were found to be Genos 21, 27, 25, 12, 24 and 28 with heading days ranging from 52 to 55 days. Similarly, high-yielding genotypes were detected in Genos 22,18, 27, 12, 16 and 30, with the mean grain yield ranging from 5.90 to 7.91 tonnes per hectare. Heritability estimates were mostly moderate for some parameters ranging from 31.58% to 48.73%with spike length recorded the highest value of 63.55%. Similarly, genetic gain was low for some of the parameters ranged from 5.50% to 8.60%, while moderate values were observed for spike length (18.40%) and grain yield (18.40%).

Keywords:

Performance,
Heritability,
Genetic Advance,
Bread Wheat,
Genotype,