Wheat breeders focus on enhancing the production potential of bread wheat by creating new varieties with acceptable genetic makeup to combat the pressure of rising human population consumption. Research to resolve this issue transpired during the Rabi of November 2021– April 2022 at the Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India. Developing the field trial used an augmented block design, 45 F₄ segregating population genotypes, and five checks. Data on characteristics, such as days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, number of productive tillers, plant height, ear length, and weight, number of spikelets ear^-1 and grains ear^-1, 1000 grain weight, grain yield plant^-1, biological yield, harvest index, and chlorophyll index underwent assessment. Highly significant variations between the genotypes for all the traits had the analysis of variance determining these, except 1000 grain weight and chlorophyll index in the treatment test and the test versus check. In this study, the harvest index, biological yield plant^-1, and grain yield plant^-1 are all higher for the phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variances (PCV, GCV). The genetic advancement and heritability are highest for days to maturity, ear weight, number of grains ear^-1, biological yield plant^-1, grain yield plant^-1, and harvest index. Studies on the relationships between various traits divulged that the number of productive tillers and harvest index had a positive, strong link and a direct effect with grain yield plant^-1. These findings support the application of genetic modification to increase seed yield in bread wheat.

Keywords: wheat, genetic variability, genotypic coefficient of variance, phenotypic coefficient of variance, heritability, correlation and path analysis

Key findings: The results from the study stated that the number of productive tillers and harvest index manifested a positive correlation and a direct effect on grain yield plant^-1, indicating that further improvement of these traits may indirectly lead to an overall improvement of the crop yield in future breeding programs.