Grouping bread wheat genotypes and lines based on some morphological traits using multivariate analysis

The knowledge about the extent of variability among bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes is a high value for the genetic improvement programs and the efficient genetic diversity utilization of plant materials. The objective of this research was to assess the morphological characteristics of 56 common wheat genotypes which were planted under field condition and their morphological traits were recorded. The principal components (PC) analysis, factor analysis and clustering procedure were applied to group genotypes according to similarity on the basis of the measured traits. Results showed that the first two PCs explain 41% of the total variation. The PC and factor analyses grouped genotypes into four groups while the cluster analysis grouped them into five distinct clusters. The cluster I had good resistance to yellow rust and salinity while the cluster II, had good resistance to drought, cold and salinity. The cluster III had high tolerance to cold stress and low temperatures but the cluster IV had good tolerance to drought, brown rust and yellow rust. Also, cluster V had various properties including tolerance abiotic stresses, resistance to biotic stresses, resistant to lodging and semi-dwarf property. The results of this research will support efforts of conservation and utilization of genotypes in bread wheat breeding programs