Background: Genetic diversity is one of the potent components used to develop improved cultivars with a broad genetic base and wider adaptability. Genetic diversity between two parents of diverse origin generally displays greater heterosis and yields transgressive segregants. Therefore, knowledge of genetic diversity is the prerequisite for the genetic improvement of crop plants including wheat. D2 statistical analysis is one of the potent biometrical techniques used for the assessment of genetic diversity.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The essence of the current experiment involved 40 providential bread wheat lines that were arranged and laid down in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications at the experimental research farm of Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura, Jaipur, during the rabi crop season (2020-21). The bread wheat lines of the same geographical range were assessed to determine the genetic diversity using D2 statistical analysis and heritability estimate in apropos to ten quantitative/qualitative characters. 
 
Result: Based on D2 analysis, the 40 promising wheat strains were lined up into ten different clusters to estimate the average distance at intra and inter-cluster levels. The uttermost intra-cluster distance was recorded in cluster X, whereas, the appreciative inter-cluster distance pertained among cluster-VI and cluster-X pursued by cluster-IX and cluster-X.&nbsp; Entrenched to the mean or average performance, most of the bread wheat lines were spotted to disclose appreciable distinctions concerning to their cluster means. It was perceived that the maximum percent contribution towards total divergence was exhibited by grain yield plant-1, followed by spike length, effective tiller plant-1, 1000 grain weight and plant height. Moreover, the number of effective tillers plant-1, spike length, harvest index ,1000 grain weight, number of grains spike-1 and protein content were quite substantial since these traits exhibit high heritability estimate together with high genetic advance as percent of mean.

Assessing Genetic Diversity in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using D2 Statistical Analysis

<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>

<div>Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Character Associations for Yield and Its Traits in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)</div>

<div>Background: Selecting suitable parent genotypes to create gene combinations that enhance yield and other advantageous characters is the key goal of wheat improvement programmes. This research investigated the general and specific combining ability and the gene actions associated with yield and yield-attributing traits. 
 
Methods: Combining ability for ten parental bread wheat genotypes was analyzed using a 10&times;10 half-diallel fashion in a randomized block design (RBD) having three replications. 
 
Result: The results disclosed that all genotypes differed significantly in yield and the factors contributing to it. GCA and SCA mean squares were highly significant for days to 75% heading, productive tillers per plant, plant height, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, biological yield, grain yield and harvest index. Except for days to 75% heading, all traits had GCA: SCA ratios less than unity, suggesting that nonadditive factors were comparatively more significant in the inheritance of these traits. The parents, CAL/NH//H567.71/3/SER1/4/CAL/NH/H567.71/5/2*KAU2/6/&hellip;, DBW 189 and UP 2901 were good general combiners in terms of yield and a few of their component traits. Eleven crosses presented notable and favourable SCA impacts regarding grain yield. The cross CAL/NH//H567.71/3/SER1/4/CAL/NH/H567.71/5/2*KAU2/6/&hellip;&times; PBW 692 displayed the maximum SCA effect for grain yield per plant. To improve productivity components and increase yields in wheat breeding programmes, parental wheat genotypes and progenies from these crosses offer the possibility of commercial exploitation either as hybrid varieties or as a base material for selecting potential homozygous lines from transgressive segregants.</div>

Genetic Studies on Combining Ability for Grain Yield and its Attributes in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell)

<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.)

<div style="text-align: justify;">One ninety diverse wheat genotypes were evaluated for genetic varaibilty, heritability and genetic advance under norrmal and heat stress environment at the Research Farm of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut U. P. (India). The genotypes were grown in simple augmented block design and data were collected on fifteen morpho-agronomic characters. Analysis of observed data showed that the mean squares due to treatments for all the traits in both the environment were highly significant. GCV and PCV were highest for canopy temperature depression, grain weight/spike, biological yield/plant, grain yield/plant, tiller number./plant and lowest for days to anthesis. Heritability (bs) estimates were high for canopy temperature depression (CTD), followed by biological yield/plant, grain weight/ spike, grain number. /spike, 1000- grain weight, grain yield/plant, tiller number./plant and lowest for days to heading and &nbsp;days to anthesis in case of both environments. The estimates of genetic advance (GA) were highest for canopy temperature depression followed by grain weight/spike, biological yield/plant, grain yield/spike, tiller number./plant, grain number./spike and lowest for days to heading and days to anthesis under both ( numberrmal and heat stress) environment. This study suggests that the presence of adequate genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for these traits under norrmal and heat stress environment is suitable for breeding programs and crop improvement.</div>

Assessment of genetic variability, heritability and genetics advance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under normal and heat stress condition

Forty nine genotypes of wheat were studied for generating scientific information on nature and magnitude of genetic variability and diversity for designing breeding programme. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design in three replications. The data were recorded on days to 50% flowering, plant height, peduncle length, number of productive tillers per plant, days to maturity, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, biological yield per plant, grain yield per plant, harvest index and gluten content. &nbsp;Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters under study. The highest estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were observed for grain yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for grain yield per plant. Based on D2 &ndash;Statistics, 49 genotypes were grouped into eight clusters. The highest inter-cluster distance was found between cluster VII and VIII followed by III and VII. This indicates that genotypes included in these clusters possess wide genetic diversity. Grain yield per plant (31.46%) showed highest contribution towards genetic divergence; therefore, this character was major determinant of genetic diversity. On the basis of divergence and cluster mean it may be suggested that maximum heterosis and good recombinants could be obtained in crosses between genotypes of cluster VIII, VII and III in varietal improvement programme. Thus, &nbsp;crosses between the genetically diverse genotypes of cluster VIII with genotypes HUW 655, HP 1937, DBW 88 and HD 3058 &nbsp;and cluster VII with genotypes like &nbsp;HP 1938, HUW 656, K1006, DBW83, DBW 84, K1004, UP2822 and NW5050 are expected to exhibit high heterosis and are also likely to produce new recombinants with desired traits.&nbsp;

Genetic variability and diversity analysis for yield and its components in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

<div>Background: This study was carried out to evaluate the quality of bread produced from wheat flour (Triticum aevistivum) fortified with date flour (Phoenix dactylifera L.).&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Bread samples were produced from blends of wheat flour and date flour at varying proportions of (100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50) respectively. Proximate composition, physical, functional and pasting properties and sensory response were carried out on the bread samples.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results showed that the moisture, protein, fat, fibre, ash and carbohydrate content were in the range of 8.54-16.81%, 12.71-14.59%, 1.00-1.90%, 0.98-1.39%, 3.83-4.62% and 61.59-72.32% respectively. The lightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) ranged 24.41-52.26%, 5.59-51.51% and 23.28-55.76%, respectively. The value for peak, trough, breakdown, final viscosity, setback, peak time and pasting temperature ranged from 1090.50-1690.50 RVU, 622.00-1158.50 RVU, 251.50-651.00 RVU, 1494.50-1816.50 RVU, 343.00-985.00 RVU, 4.29-5.68 min and 80.06-90.39&deg;C respectively. The values of taste, aroma, texture, appearance and overall acceptability ranged from 4.37-6.40, 4.47-6.33, 4.07-6.33, 4.20-6.30 and 4.23-7.37 respectively. Supplementation of 40% date flour into wheat flour gave bread with highest sensory value of 7.37 for overall acceptability. The bread sample produced with 60% wheat flour/40% date flour is recommended to consumers due to its high sensory scores.</div>

Quality Evaluation of Bread Produced from Wheat Flour (Triticum aevistivum) Fortified with Date Flour (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

<div>Background: Bread is baked product generally prepared with use of refined wheat flour which is deficient in protein and fiber. Addition of Amaranthus flour and chicken meat powder in bread enhanced the protein and fiber content which are essential component of human diet.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Methods: Amaranthus flour was utilized for fibre enrichment of chicken-meat protein fortified whole wheat bread (meat bread) by substituting whole wheat flour at 5, 10, 15% level. Physico-chemical characteristics, proximate analysis, instrumental colour and texture profile and sensory evaluation were conducted. 
 
Result: Moisture content, moisture retention, dietary fibres, insoluble dietary fibres and redness of bread increased significantly (P&lt;0.05) at each level of amaranth fortification while fat, moisture-protein ratio, total phenolic content and texture parameters like hardness, springiness, stringiness and chewiness values increased significantly (P&lt;0.05) at higher levels i.e. 10% and 15%. Colour and appearance of crust and crumb, flavour and after-taste of treatment increased significantly (P&lt;0.05) while porosity, texture and meat flavour intensity decreased non-significantly (P&gt;0.05). The overall acceptability scores of 10% substitution were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher than control. The study revealed that 10% amaranth incorporation can be successfully done for the development of fibre enriched chicken meat-protein fortified whole wheat bread (meat bread) without adversely affecting the bread characteristics.</div>

Optimization of Amaranth Incorporation in Bread Prepared with Combination of Chicken Meat Powder and Whole Wheat Flour

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. 
&nbsp; 
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). 
&nbsp; 
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.)

Background: Wheat is the prime and staple food in the world as well as India and it is grown in peninsular zone of India. The production of wheat was suffered due to biotic and abiotic factors in the country. Therefore, the present study was focused on assessing the genetic variability and morphological characterization among the cultivar under south eastern plain of Rajasthan. 
 
Methods: Thirty-two cultivars of wheat were evaluated in RBD with four replications during rabi season 2022-23 at AICRP on Seed (Crops), Agriculture University, Kota, Rajasthan.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Significant differences were observed among the cultivars for all traits studied. A wide range of variation was noted for most of these traits. The phenotypic variance for most traits closely matched the corresponding genotypic variance, indicating minimal environmental influence on their expression. High broad-sense heritability (%) combined with substantial genetic advance as a percentage of the mean was observed for traits such as biological yield per plant (g), number of grains per spike, harvest index (%) and grain yield per plant (g), suggesting these traits would respond well to selection. Grain yield per plant (g) showed a significant positive correlation at both phenotypic and genotypic levels with biological yield per plant (g) (0.744; 0.709), test weight (g) (0.436; 0.402) and days to maturity (0.249; 0.230). Biological yield per plant (g) had the strongest direct positive effect on grain yield per plant (g) at both levels (1.478; 1.282), followed by harvest index (%) (0.880; 0.904). These traits are recommended as key selection criteria for improving yield and ensuring stable performance in wheat cultivars.

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Assessing Genetic Diversity in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using D² Statistical Analysis

Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Character Associations for Yield and Its Traits in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)