Inheritable evaluation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under late sown conditions in Malwa region of India

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the extent of genetic variability among sixty wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes, including two local checks (Lok-1 and Tejas), under late sown conditions during the Rabi 2024-25 season. The experiment was conducted at the Demonstration-cum-Experimental Farm, Shri Vaishnav Institute of Agriculture, using a randomized block design with two replications. Data were recorded on important agronomic and physiological traits such as germination percentage, ground cover, days to heading, days to anthesis, days to maturity, plant height, spike length, grain yield, and 1000-grain weight. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for most of the studied traits, indicating the presence of substantial genetic variability even under late sown conditions. Several genotypes performed better than the standard checks, reflecting their adaptability and tolerance to terminal heat stress commonly associated with delayed sowing. In particular, genotypes such as NINGA #1 exhibited superior grain yield along with desirable physiological traits, suggesting their potential utility in breeding programs targeting heat stress tolerance. The variation observed for key yield and phenology-related traits under late sowing highlights the importance of exploiting both phenotypic and genetic diversity for the development of climate-resilient and high-yielding wheat cultivars. Late sown conditions generally expose the crop to higher temperatures during reproductive and grain-filling stages, which adversely affect yield; therefore, the identification of genotypes with better performance under such stress environments is crucial. The findings of this study emphasize the significance of evaluating wheat genotypes under late sown conditions, which serve as an effective screening environment for identifying heat-tolerant genotypes. The identification of stable and high-performing genotypes under delayed sowing is essential for sustaining wheat productivity under changing climatic scenarios. Overall, the results provide valuable insights for breeders, indicating that the promising genotypes identified in this study can be effectively utilized in future breeding strategies aimed at improving yield stability, heat stress tolerance, and adaptability across diverse agro-climatic regions.