GENETIC VARIABILITY STUDY AMONG WHEAT GENOTYPES UNDER NORMAL AND DROUGHT CONDITIONS

Present studies were conducted under normal and drought conditions using Line × Tester analysis in experimental field of Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad during Rabi season of 2010-2012. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences among the genotypes for flag leaf area, grains per spike, RWC, stomatal size, 1000-grain weight and grain yield per plant under both planting conditions. The results of line × tester analysis exhibited significant to highly significant difference between parents, crosses and lines × tester cross combinations. In case of general combining ability under normal and drought conditions, the lines 9438, 9444 and 9428 were found best. While observing testers, the genotype Seher-06 and 9437 displayed highest GCA effects for most of the traits. The cross combinations 9444 × 9451 and 9372 × Saher-06 exhibited highest SCA effects under normal conditions but could not retain its position for the observed traits under water stress situation. These superior genotypes could be included as promising parents in future breeding programs and crosses like 9444 × 9451 and 9372 × Saher-06, can be exploited in future breeding programs for improvement of morpho-physiological characters conferring resistance to water stress under drought situations with stable grain yield.