ESTIMATION OF CORRELATION COEFFICIENT AMONG SOME YIELD PARAMETERS OF WHEAT UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS

Correlation studies were conducted in F2 progenies of an 8x8 complete diallel cross of wheat genotypes, sown at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi during 2002. The association among different yield contributing traits was studied at genotypic and phenotypic levels. The results revealed positive correlation in case of number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike and 1000 grain weight with grain yield at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. However, number of tillers per m2 and spike length contributed negatively towards grain yield at both levels. Plant height was positively correlated with grain yield at genotypic level, whereas negatively correlated at phenotypic levels. It was, therefore, suggested that number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike and 1000 grain weight should be given emphasis for future wheat yield improvement programs.