Abstract
Seven F2 populations involving six varieties/lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated for genetic variability and inheritance of some yield and related traits. Considerable amount of variability among the genotypes and F2 populations for the traits studied indicated the possibility of selection for these traits in the genetic material studied for further improvement. Broad-sense heritability for flag leaf area, number of tillers per plant, spike length, grains per spike and grain yield per plant ranged from 82.86 to 93.51 %, 69.28 to 90.67%, 49.93 to 66.05%, 81.57 to 93.85% and 58.39 to 88.24%, respectively. The respective values of genetic advance for these traits ranged from 8.70 to 16.69, 3.26 to 7.18, 1.28 to 2.25, 16.18 to 32.18 and 1.77 to 4.50. Fairly high estimates of heritability and genetic advance for the plant traits studied in the F2 populations of crosses, 3 WLRG/1-8 x WL-43, 12 WLRG/1-12 x WL-43 and Local White x 3 WLRG/1-8, suggested that selection for these traits could be practiced more effectively. Key words: Wheat, heritability, genetic variability
