<div>Background: Triticum aestivum L. (Wheat) is vital grain crop used globally as a staple food. The increasing population is posing a great challenge for agriculture sector especially to secure the availability of wheat. In Pakistan, from the last few years&rsquo; wheat productivity has improved but it is still far less than other countries. Its low productivity is attributed to various factors like weeds, pests, diseases, soil fertility and moisture. To overcome these obstacles, there is a dire need to assess the genetic variability of wheat by rapid and reliable methods. Observations for nine morphological traits were noted and analysis was done at 0.05 probability level. 
 
Methods:&nbsp;To study the genetic variability in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes a field experiment was done during 2017 and 2018 at two different locations Rara and Danna of Muzaffarabad. Hundred wheat genotypes were investigated by using simple lattice design with 4 replications. Analysis of the observations for nine morphological traits was carried out at 0.05 probability. 
 
Result: High values for phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were noted for grain yield (16.44 and 17.07%) and (14.75 and 15.94%) at both locations, separately. High heritability were obtained for plant height (98.80%) harvest index (96.84), thousand grain weight (95.47), spike length (94.91) and grain yield (92.80) at Rara and&nbsp; plant height (98.09), thousand grain weight (95.66), harvest index (93.32) and number of grain (91.28) at Danna. High genetic advance values were noted for number of tiller (53.45 and 42.89) at both locations. It is concluded from this research that estimation of the variability, heritability and genetic advance in the wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) is important in the plant breeding, because it might be used for improvement of novel varieties by breeders of wheat at relevant location.</div>

​​Genetic Variability of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Different Agro-climatic Zone of Western Himalayan Region of Pakistan

Field and laboratory experiments were carried out to determine the effect of cold stress on fifteen wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. Fifteen cultivars including winter cultivars viz., Sayson, Marton, Gaskoghen, C-82-12, C-82-13, facultative cultivars: Alvand, Mahdavi, Zarrin, Marvdasht, Tous and spring cultivars viz., &nbsp;Shiraz, Pishtaz, M-79-7, M-81-13, Kavir were sown at three dates (15 October, 15 November and 15 December) based on complete blocks design with three replications under field conditions. In laboratory experiment the same cultivars were evaluated under cold stress at two and four leaves growth stages. Results showed that there were significant differences among cultivars in grain yield, potassium accumulation, lethal temperature (LT50), ion leakage, chlorophyll content &nbsp;a and b among growing stages, genotypes and interaction between them. Ion leakage was the highest for M-81-13 cultivar (81.12ds m-1). C-82-12 and &nbsp;Gaskogen with more than 6.44 % and Sayson with 4.89 % potassium accumulations had the highest and lowest values. Lethal temperature of Gaskogen and Shiraz were -42 and -28&deg;C. Gaskogen was tolerant to cold stress and hadn&rsquo;t high grain yield potential. The highest chlorophyll a and proline &nbsp;content were obtained for Marvdasht and Gaskoghen with 2.51mg.g-1 and 0.34mg.g-1 at two leaves growth stage. In contrast the lowest chlorophyll b related to Sayson and C-82-12 with 1.37 and 1.39 mg g-1, respectively. All cultivars at first planting date had more grain yield than two other planting dates.&nbsp;

Physiological and biochemical responses of wheat cultivars&nbsp;(Triticum aestivum L.) to cold stress conditions

Background: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a predominant staple food across the globe, supplying approximately 50% of daily calories in several countries based on its high proteins, starches, fibers, carbohydrates, vitamins and mineral contents. The study aimed to investigate the role and application method of phosphorus fertilizer and its impact on the growth and yield traits of two wheat cultivars (Baghdad and Babel) grown under desert conditions (Triticum aestivum L.). 
&nbsp; 
Methods: A field trial was implemented in the Al-Lehais region, located approximately 125 km west of the Basra Governorate Center, during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 growing seasons. Phosphate fertilizer was applied in three ways: soil application, foliar spray and a combination of soil application and foliar spray. Mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP 62% P2O5) fertilizer was applied at four levels: (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P/ha for soil application and mixed application with foliar spraying and (0, 10, 20 and 30) kg P/ha for foliar spraying. For soil application, half the fertilizer was applied at planting and the other half was as a foliar spray in two equal doses during the elongation and flowering stages. For foliar spraying, the fertilizer dose was divided into three equal doses applied during the tillering, elongation and flowering stages. The crop growth rate from elongation to full maturity, total plant dry weight, phosphorus uptake at full maturity and fertilizer use efficiency were studied. 
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Result: The results showed significant differences in the studied traits (crop growth rate, dry weight, amount of phosphorus absorbed, phosphorus utilization efficiency and grain yield) among the application methods. The foliar application method was superior to the other application methods, even though the amount applied by spraying was only one-third of the amount applied by soil application and the combined soil and spray application methods. Increasing phosphorus levels generally improved growth parameters and most measured traits. The Baghdad cultivar exhibited superior performance across all growth parameters and application methods.

Phosphorus Spraying to Enhance Wheat Productivity in Desert Areas (Triticum aestivum L.)

Background: Wheat is a major cereal crop, ranking first in global production. The Line x Tester analysis identifies the best-performing combinations based on the general combining ability of parents and specific combining ability of hybrids. This information helps in selecting suitable parents for developing high-yielding hybrids. 
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Methods: The experiment involved forty-five genotypes, including thirteen parental lines (ten lines and three testers), thirty F1s and two checks, to estimate variance components and combining ability using a Line x Tester mating design in wheat (Triticum aestivum). It was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) during the Rabi seasons of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 at the Agriculture Research Farm, Department of plant breeding and genetics, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (Punjab). 
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Result: The results showed significant genetic variability among lines, testers and hybrids. The variance due to specific combining ability (&sigma;2s) was higher than that due to general combining ability (&sigma;2g). Dominance genetic variance (&sigma;2D) was greater than additive genetic variance (&sigma;2A) and the degree of dominance was greater than one (&gt;1) for most traits, except for plant height and flag leaf area in F1s. The predictability ratio was less than one (&lt;1) for all traits, indicating the presence of non-additive gene action with some influence of additive gene. General combining ability (GCA) analysis identified lines such as PBW677, 10th&nbsp;HPYT438 and 10th&nbsp;HPYT422, along with tester HD3226, as good combiners with strong potential for developing improved wheat lines through hybridization. Specific combining ability (SCA) analysis showed PBW677 x PBW725, 10th HPYT422 x HD3226, PBW677 x DBW222 and 10th&nbsp;HPYT402 x DBW222 as the best specific combiners, suggesting their potential for yield enhancement in breeding programs. These findings are an important step in advancing wheat breeding programs and ensuring sustainable food production.

Components of Genetic Variance and Combining Ability Analysis in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

<div style="text-align: justify;">Thirty wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated for 11 morphological and yield trait for analysis of character association (phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficient), path analysis and cluster analysis. The experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2014-2015 in a randomized block design with three replication. Days to 50% heading showed positive and significant correlation with &nbsp;flag leaf area and number of spiklet per ear; flag leaf area showed positive and significant correlation with 1000 grain weight; Plant height &nbsp;showed positive and significant correlation with &nbsp;spike length; spike length &nbsp;showed positive and significant correlation with &nbsp;1000 grain weight. Phenotypic path analysis showed &nbsp;biological yield and number of grain per spike had highly positive and direct effect on grain yield. Direct and highly positive effect on grain yield was shown by number of productive tillers, plant height, spike length, number of spikelet per spike genotypic path coefficient. Biological yield and grains yield per plant show highly positive and direct effect on yield with number of productive tillers, plant height, number of spikelet per spike and spike length. In &nbsp;cluster analysis the intra cluster distance ranged from 1.61 (cluster II) to 2.37 (cluster III and VI ). Thus the member of cluster II were &nbsp;least divergent and similarly the &nbsp;member of cluster III and IV were most divergent &nbsp;The maximum inter cluster distance was between cluster II and III followed by cluster IV &nbsp;and V , cluster VI and &nbsp;III and cluster VI and &nbsp;V that order therefore the accessions grouped in the five pair of cluster may be considered as most divergent.</div>

Evaluation of wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) for assessment of character association, path coefficient and cluster analysis

<div>Background: Wheat is a cereal crop that is widely farmed across the world and ranks first in global crop production. Wheat cultivation is the world&rsquo;s most important food crop.The assessment of genetic divergence existing in the germplasm collections is very important to select genetically divergent parents for hybridization in a transgressive breeding programme for development of high yielding wheat varieties coupled with quality, multiple resistance and wider adaptability. 
 
Methods: The experiment on 21genotypes including two checks viz., HD 2967 and PBW 824 was conducted to work out the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and divergence analysis for yield and yield contributing traits in wheat (Triticum&nbsp; aestivum L.). The experiment was laid out in randomised block design (RBD) during Rabi, 2021-2022 at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab. 
 
Result: The analysis of variance revealed mean sum of square due to genotypes were significant for all the characters indicating sufficient genetic variability among the genotypes. The magnitude of PCV and GCV were moderate for grain yield per plant and harvesting index, which suggests greater phenotypic and genotypic variance among the genotypes and responsiveness of the attributes for making further improvement by selection and indicating limited scope for improvement. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance observed for harvest-index thus these characters show additive gene action in their expression. In divergence analysis, maximum intra-cluster distance exhibited by cluster 2 followed by cluster 1among the different genotypes. The maximum inter-cluster distance between cluster 2 and 3 followed by cluster 2 and 7 and the minimum inter cluster distance was recorded between cluster 5 and 6 followed by cluster 1 and 3. It indicated that for crop improvement in wheat diversified genotypes may be selected from cluster 2 and cluster 3 to received maximum transgressive recombinants from segregating generations.&nbsp;</div>

Genetic Variability, Heritability, Genetic Advance and Divergence Analysis in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Background: This study was conducted during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 wheat growing seasons in Ordu province to determine the adaptability of 99 bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes obtained from theinternational winter wheat improvement program (IWWIP) and the international maize and wheat improvement center under rainfed conditions. 
 
Methods: In the first year, the experiment was conducted using the augmented experimental design, while in the second year, it was conducted using the randomized complete block design with three replications. The study examined various phenological, morphological, agronomic, quality and some biochemical grain content parameters in wheat genotypes. 
 
Result: According to the biplot analysis, significant variations were determined among the genotypes in terms of different traits. Regarding morphological and agronomic characteristics, genotypes 5, 67, 33 and 36 stood out with superior performance in traits such as plant height (10.94-66.51 cm), flag leaf length (10.74-24.04 cm), flag leaf width (0.87-2.3 cm), flag leaf area (9.53-33.6 cm&sup2;), spike weight (0.82-2.54 g), spike length (4.79-9.66 cm), number of spikes per square meter (144.58-565.83 spikes/m&sup2;), grain yield per spike (0.67-1.63 g), number of grains per spike (14.69-40.45), thousand kernel weight (23.01-45.84 g), grain yield per decare (186.13-348.13 kg/da) and harvest index (24.13-60.38%). In terms of quality traits, genotypes 42, 14, 11, 5, 27, 65, 73 and 36 were found to be superior for Zeleny sedimentation value (24.07-62.07 ml), delayed sedimentation value (10-72.07 ml), grain protein content (10.01-16.71%), grain moisture content (11.73-14.63%), wet gluten content (17.67-40.07%) and gluten index (24.07-98.07%). Additionally, in terms of biochemical content, genotypes 33, 65, 93, 24 and 42 were notable.

Determination of Adaptability of Advanced Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Lines under Rainfed Conditions

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the second major global cereals mostly grown in winter season which led wheat plants to suffer with salinity stress. Twenty to thirty percent of the arable land of the world is present in the saline area. Therefore, it is necessary to develop salinity tolerant wheat varieties to meet the future food demand.&nbsp; 
 
Methods:&nbsp;A field experiment was carried out during November 2018 to March 2019 to observe the effect of salinity on yield and other desired plant characters and finally screening of wheat genotypes for salinity tolerance. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomized design containing three treatments with three replications. The treatments were three levels of salinity such as control, 8 dS m-1&nbsp;and 15 dS m-1. Multivariate and principal components analysis was executed to evaluate yield and other plant characters.&nbsp; 
 
Result:&nbsp;The results of the experiment revealed that different plant characters showed wide range of variation under different salinity levels. Biplot analysis considering PC1 and PC2 revealed that grain yield was positively correlated with grain spike-1, spike length, thousand seed weight and total tiller plant-1. Correlation study also revealed that total tiller plant-1, spikelet spike-1, grain spike-1 and thousand seed weight showed significant and positive relation with grain yield plant-1. On the basis of yield reduction percent and yield the genotypes G12 (2.51 g), G16 (2.49 g) and G4 (2.19 g) were found suitable for 15 dS m-1 salinity.</div>

Evaluation of Salinity Tolerant Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes through Multivariate Analysis of Agronomic Traits

Background: A study was done during the Rabi 2022-23 on the farm of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (Punjab) on &ldquo;Effect of planting patterns, weed competition on growth, yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).&rdquo; PBW-824 variety was used for the experiment which is suitable under irrigated conditions of Punjab.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted in split plot design (SPD) with 4 planting techniques viz. two rows per bed, three rows/bed, bidirectional sowing, flat/line sowing in main/major plots and four weed competition treatments viz. competition by Phalaris minor only, competition by broad leaf weeds only, competition by both (weedy check) and no competition (weed free) in minor/sub plots. 
 
Result: The findings concluded that among main plots, crucially more grain yield (51.93 q/ha) and (51.29 q/ha) was obtained in cross sowing and three rows/bed, than two rows/bed and flat/line sowing pattern. Also increased seed/kernel yield in cross sowing, three rows/bed and two rows/bed was (14.43%, 13.02% and 5.39%) respectively than flat sowing. The growth and yield attributes were also seriously more in cross sowing, three rows per bed than flat sowing. Among weed competition treatments grain yield was significantly higher in no competition by both Phalaris minor and broad leaf weeds than other weed competition treatments. There were 41.85%, 25.55% and 14.75% increased grain yield in no competition treatment, competition by broad leaf weeds only and competition by Phalaris minor only as compared to control (unweeded) treatment. Among sub plots, all yield attributes were significantly higher in weed free treatment as contrast to all other weed competition treatments.

Effect of Planting Patterns and Weed Competition on Growth, Yield and Quality of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

<div>Background: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) an important self-pollinated and hexaploid (2n = 6x = 42) cereal crop belongs to the grass family Gramineae (Poaceae). With the gradual increase in human population, there is a substantial increase in the demands for food requirements. Hence, increasing the wheat production is an important goal to overcome the demand of food. The only alternative is to increase productivity by better crop management techniques and introduction of high yielding varieties. The current study aimed to study the genetic diversity in wheat genotypes for further selection and utilization in breeding programmes and identification of transgressive segregants for genetic improvement in wheat crop.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: In the field investigation during 2017-2019, forty genotypes were evaluated at research farm of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Kisan P.G. College, Simbhaoli, Hapur (U.P). The observations were recorded on five randomly selected competitive plants from each genotype in each replication and recorded data from each replication was subjected to statistical analysis.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Significant differences were observed for all the characters studied in both environments (early and late). Highest GCV and PCV were recorded for flag leaf area, number of tillers per plant and grain yield in both environments. Plant height, days to 50% heading and grain yield in early sowing and for plant height, gluten content and grain yield exhibited high heritability estimates in late sowing. Biological yield and harvest index showed positive and significant association with grain yield under both environments. Biological yield and harvest index have positive and direct effect on grain yield in both environments. Forty genotypes were grouped into seven clusters in early sowing and six clusters in late sowing. Maximum inter cluster distance was observed between clusters VI and IV in early sowing and between cluster III and II in Late sowing. Genotypes PBW-34 showed wide genetic diversity in both the environments (early and late sowing). Based on the divergence studies it is suggested that maximum heterosis and good recombinants could be obtained in crosses between the genotypes of clusters which showed highest inter cluster distance and these genotypes can be utilized in crop improvement programmes.</div>

Genetic Variability of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Different Agro-climatic Zone of Western Himalayan Region of Pakistan

Physiological and biochemical responses of wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) to cold stress conditions