Genetic Variation and Association of Grain Quality Traits in Tetraploid Wheat (Triticum turgidum spp,) Landraces and Some Improved Cultivars of Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract A total of 196 tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum spp) germplasm, representing 174 landraces and 22 improved cultivars, of Ethiopia were evaluated assess to the variation and correlation of traits using 8 grain quality traits, There was a highly significant (p < 0.001) variation among the genotypes for all traits. Except for vitreousness percentage, all the traits were highly significantly (p < 0.001) affected by the environment. Range values revealed that there was high variability among the genotypes in their thousand kernel weight, Zeleny index, and vitreousness percentage; medium variability in gluten content and low variability in seed yield, and protein content. The mean values of thousand kernel weight, seed yield, gluten content, protein content, Zeleny index, and vitreousness percentage respectively was 34.24 ± 0.28,3.25 ± 0.06, 26.49 ± 0.21,13.3 ± 0.06, 41.57 ± 0.57, and 68.44 ± .1.12. The values of PCV and GCV were high for seed yield, Zeleny index, vitreousness percentage; intermediate for gluten content and thousand kernel weight and low for protein content. Estimate of broad sense heritability (H2) ranged from 33.57% for seed yield to 66.36% for Zeleny index. The observed genetic advance and GAM were high for seed yield and Zeleny index; intermediate for thousand kernel weight, gluten content, and vitreousness percentage, and low for protein content. Seed yield showed a highly significant positive correlation with thousand kernel weight and vitreousness percentage and a positive correlation with protein content and gluten content (0.1). The present result concluded that there was high variation among the genotypes in their grain quality. The implication for breeding was discussed.