Selection to heading date and plant height and the effect over wheat grain yield

Abstract

Eight segregating populations of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were studied as to their days of flowering and plant height traits in two generations (F₃ and F₄) in order to establish their influence on grain yield. The populations were conducted under two selection procedures: modified SSD and pedigree method. Genetic variability (high for days to flowering and low for plant height) was present in the populations studied. Artificial selection and measurement of characters demonstrated a significant advance due to the modified pedigree method procedure applied in F₂ and tested in F₃ and F₄ generations for the adaptative traits, showing direct contribution in reduction of number of days to flowering and plant height; thereby showing significant moving of the population mean of those traits. However, there was no evidence of the progress in the character indirectly influenced by two selection procedures. Similarly the selection for these traits had small influence on moving the population mean for grain yield.