Segregation of some wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes using cluster analysis procedure

ABSTRACT: In the present experiment cluster and principal component analysis were used to study the relationship between wheat genotypes grain yield and its components. Wheat genotypes were arranged based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at Sari Agricultural Science and Natural Resources University during 2012. On the basis of cluster analysis, genotypes segregated into four groups. Cluster 1 included genotypes number 16, 29, 15 and 13, while cluster 4 included genotypes number 9, 30, 3, 21, 26 and 2. The results of cluster analysis between traits showed that days to flowering, stem diameter, grain dry weight, number of kernel per panicle and panicle dry weight were the most closely related to grain yield. The results of variance analysis exhibited significant differences between groups for all traits. Also, these results illustrated that there was high genetic variation between groups. Furthermore, five principal components including PC1 to PC5 extracted from the original data and having latent roots greater than one and accounting for nearly 80 % of the total variation. High yield of wheat plants based on these genotypes can possibly be obtained by selecting breeding materials with genotypes that have high capacity in length of growing period, leaf capacity and flowering factors. Finally, genotypes that located in groups 1 and 4 can be used for future breeding programs.

cluster analysis, flowering, grain yield, wheat