Genetic variability assessment in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars using multivariate statistical analysis

Evaluation of genetic diversity is one of the most important aims in wheat breeding. Breeding science need to genetic variability. On the other hand, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the major cereal crop in Iran on which the food security rests. Therefore, in order to evaluate and classify morphological and morpho-physiological traits of bread wheat genotypes, 18 cultivars were sown in randomised complete block design with three replications. Principal component analysis based on the measured traits classified bread wheat cultivars to four distinct groups. Cluster analysis using ward’s method grouped these cultivars in three clusters. Similirity between results of principal component and cluster analysis were observed for classification of genotypes. Overall, crosses among cultivars having maximum genetic distance can be resulted higher transgressive segregation and genetic gain of selection. Increasingly, cross between genotypes 1 and 18 as well as selection among their progeny have the best result.