Article Title
Multivariate Analysis, Performance and Genetic Variability of Phenological, Physiological and Agro-Morphological Traits in Some Algerian Oasis Wheat Landraces
Abstract
Algerian Saharan oases’ wheat represents an important breeding material for the development of resistant genotypes to environmental stress and climate change. This study was conducted on six Saharan oases bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) landraces using complete randomized block design. It aimed at evaluating their morphological, agronomical, physiological and phenological performance and their related estimates of genetic variability and heritability under semi-arid conditions during 2020/2021 growing season. Data were analyzed for correlation coefficient, path coefficient analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The results revealed the existence of significant variation in all measured traits. High heritability and high genetic advance were recorded for yield, yield-related traits, and most morphological traits including plant height, peduncle length, spike length, number of nods, and flag leaf area. Additionally, the analysis of correlation coefficients showed that grain yield is significantly correlated to yield-related traits, chlorophyll content, days to first leaf, days to booting and days to heading. Furthermore, path coefficient analysis showed direct positive effect of number of grains per spike, weight of thousand grain and days to booting on grain yield. Multivariate analysis enabled the study of the relationship between different traits and helped classify and select the highest yielding and best adapted landraces simultaneously.
