SELECTION TO HEADING DATE AND PLANT HEIGH T AND THE EFFECT OVER WHEAT-GRAIN YIELD

Eight segregating populations of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were stu died as to their days of flowering and plant height traits in two gene rations (F-3 and F-4) in order to establish their influence on grain y ield. The populations were conducted under two selection procedures: m odified SSD and pedigree method. Genetic variability (high for days to flowering and low for plant height) was present in the populations st udied. Artificial selection and measurement of characters demonstrated a significant advance due to the modified pedigree method procedure a pplied in F-2 and tested in F-3 and F-4 generations for the adaptative traits, showing direct contribution in reduction of number of days to flowering and plant height; thereby showing significant moving of the population mean of those traits. However, there was no evidence of th e progress in the character indirectly influenced by two selection pro cedures. Similarly the selection for these traits had small influence on moving the population mean for grain yield.