Genetic variation, heritability, genetic advance, micronutrients, and grain morphology trait associations in EMS induced mutant lines of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)

Micronutrients especially iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are essential for human health, whose deficiency is a global concern. The direct intake of Fe and Zn can be adapted via, enhancing the concentration of the same in cereals such as wheat. The genetic control of Fe and Zn contents is complex in nature and hence, understanding the variability, heritability and genetic advance are important parameters for breeding and selection. In this study a set of more than 1200 EMS mutant wheat lines were raised in an augmented block design in environment1. These lines showed high variation for grain Fe (23.90–55.50 ppm) and Zn (19.9–62.6 ppm) content. A subset of 180 mutant lines were selected on the basis of micronutrient content which later sown in multi-environments. The selected lines showed wide variation for both the micronutrients (Fe; 26.52–49.90/26.20–48.70 and Zn; 23.08–46.5/24.20–45.80 ppm in environment2/3 and also in grain morphology traits. The coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from 5.82 (1000 grain weight; TGW) to 21.31 (factor form density; FFD). Phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic (GCV) coefficient of variation were low for TGW and high for FFD. Broad sense heritability ( H 2 ) was greater than 60% for all traits studied whereas genetic advance as a percent of mean (GAM) ranged from low (18.11) in grain perimeter length (GPL) to high (34.57) in FFD. The grain iron (GFeC) and zinc (GZnC) contents were positively correlated to each other and negatively correlated with grain area size (GAS), grain length (GL) and TGW using BLUP value for each trait. High heritability and GAM indicated the presence of additive genes controlling the trait. The lines with higher grain Fe/Zn contents along with grain trait could be dynamic components of functional foods and improved food nutritional quality. The data generated in the study provide useful resources for its deployment in wheat breeding programme.