Grain yield performance, correlation, and cluster analysis in elite bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines

Wheat is a leading cereal, playing a crucial role in feeding the hungry world and improving global food security. The present study was undertaken to comparatively analyze the extent of genetic diversity for various quantitative traits among the wheat material exotic to Pakistan, received from CIMMYT (The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center), Mexico. Nineteen advanced lines from the Semi-Arid Wheat Yield Trial (SAWYT) were studied along with a local cultivar, considered a control (NIA-Amber). Data were recorded on nine important agro-morphic traits. The compared genotypes differed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in the studied traits, where line V6 produced the highest mean grain yield (6,049 kg ha−1) and maximum 1,000-grain weight (45.0 g). Other lines, V19, V17, and V2, also showed superiority in yield (5,723, 5,150, and 5,067 kg ha−1, respectively). Days to heading established a significant positive association with days to maturity (r = 0.7995), plant height (r = 0.3168), spike length (r = 0.2696), and spikelets per spike (r = 0.4391). The important yield associated trait, 1,000-grain weight, had a highly significant positive correlation (r = 0.6833) with grain yield. Cluster analysis for various quantitative traits showed important information about genetic diversity for the studied traits among wheat genotypes. Hence, selection of genotypes for higher grain yield based on these traits could be useful for future breeding.