Genetic correlation and path analysis of transpiration efficiency for wheat flag leaves

A 4 × 4 complete diallel cross was set up with four different types of drought-resistant winter wheat varieties to define mutual relations among main quantitative traits and the contribution of each trait to the flag leaf transpiration efficiency (TE) in the grain filling phase. Through genetic correlative and path analysis, the influence of five physiological traits, net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci), transpiration rate (Tr), and leaf temperature (Tl), on flag leaf TE was observed. The results of variance analysis showed that there were very significant differences between TE and the related five traits, as well as between these five traits. The results of genetic correlation analysis showed also that the absolute values of the correlation coefficients of corresponding traits to TE should be ordered as Pn > Gs > Tl > Tr > Ci in the early grain filling stage, Ci > Tr > Pn > Gs > Tl in the middle grain filling stage, and Pn > Ci > Tl > Tr > Gs in the late grain filling stage, respectively. The results of the combined analysis of genetic correlation and path analysis showed that at the early filling stage, there existed a strong positive genetic correlation between Pn and TE, and at the same time Pn had a direct positive contribution to TE. With the progression of grain filling, the stress of high temperature and drought strengthened and the function of flag leaves weakened, so that at the late grain filling phase Ci, Tr and Tl were strongly negatively correlated with TE and all these traits conferred direct negative contributions to TE. The results of this research showed that the selection of wheat genetic materials with slow-ageing, high-photosynthesis, low-transpiration and low leaf temperature should assist breeding of wheat with more efficient use of water in north western China.