COMPONENTS OF THE PHENOTYPIC VARIABILITY OF MORPHO-ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WHEAT FLAG LEAF

Leaf blade area, blade thickness (on vein and between veins), thicknes s of mesophyll, cell size (height, width) of the photosynthetic tissue , and size (height, width) of vascular bundles were examined in thirty wheat genotypes of different geographical origin. Significant differe nces among genotype were obtained in all the means characteristics und er consideration. Calculated values of the variance components (sigma( 2)g, sigma(2)e, sigma(2)f), variation coefficient, and heritability sh ow the importance of the genetic variance in blade area and height of cells of the photosynthetic tissue while the role of the ecological va riance is more evident in the expression of other traits.