Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) Evaluation under Semi Arid Conditions in Eastern Algeria by Path Analysis

Abstract:

This study was aimed to characterize yield components and plant traits related to grain yield. Correlation and path analysis were carried out in durum wheat genotypes grown under irrigated and non-irrigated field conditions during two cropping seasons (2010/2011 and 2011/2012).

In the path coefficient analysis, grain yield represented the dependent variable and the number of spikes m^-2, number of grains spike^-1, kernel weight and number of grains m^-2 were the independent ones. Grain yield showed positive phenotypic correlation with number of spikes m^-2 and number of grains per m^-2under both conditions and during two cropping seasons.Path analysis revealed positive direct effect of 1000- kernels weight, number of spike m^-2 and number of grains per spike on grain yield. These results indicated that the 1000- kernels weight and number of spikes m^-2 followed by the number of grains per spike and number of grains per m^-2 were the traits related to higher grain yield, under irrigated and late season water stress conditions.