Estimation of heritability parameters for spike traits in bread wheat

The research was conducted to determine genetic potential in seven F 3 lines which were developed from two important commercial cultivars of Sindh for the assessment of spike traits in spring wheat. The mean squares revealed that all F 3 progenies along with their parents were significantly different at P≤ 0.01 for all the trails viz; spike length, number of spikelets per spike. Number of grains per spike indicated great genetic variability among the breeding material which could be utilized for the improvement of characters as well as the grain yield. The biostatistic parameters suggested transgressive segregates to be selected for spike traits of wheat. The traits spike length and spikelets per spike recorded high heritability associated with high genetic advance in most of the lines while number of grains per spike recorded low to moderate  heritability in broad sense associated with high genetic advance  in most of the lines. The high heritability coupled with high genetic advance values obtained in all lines for spike length and spiklelets per spike and Line-5 for number of grains per spike suggesting prompt selection at this stage for the development of new superior varieties of wheat