Journal of Crop Breeding

Increasing grain yield is the most important goal in any breeding program. Since yield is a complex trait and involves several quantitative components with low inheritance, its direct evaluation is not usually sufficient and therefore it is suggested that its components be investigated instead. The objective of this study was grouping 60 inbred lines along with four check cultivars of wheat from the different phonological and agronomic traits, and selection of superior groups. Therefore, these lines and cultivars were examined in (8 × 8) square lattice design with two replications. In analysis of variance for the evaluated phonological and agronomic traits, significant differences were observed in the most traits that indicate high genetic diversity of these traits. Cluster analysis showed that selection of first cluster of lines for phonological traits and second cluster of lines for agronomic traits with selection for early flowering and high plant height, awn length and biomass could lead to selection of genotypes with high number of spike per plant, seed number per spike, 1000- grain weight and grain yield. As well as, because of more easily evaluation and more heritability, these traits can be recommended for indirect selection of grain yield and its components of wheat under rainfed conditions.