Vol. 11, Issue 11 (2022)

The present investigation was carried out in Kharif 2017 to estimate the relative contribution of various traits for total genetic variability present in indigenous germplasm accessions by Principal Component Analysis. 50 rice germplasm accessions along with five check varieties were evaluated for 10 yield and yield attributing traits by Principal Component Analysis. Out of ten only three principal components (PCs) exhibited more than 1 Eigen value and explained at least 5% of variation along with 70.086% cumulative variability among the traits studied and PC1 showed 33.603% while PC2, PC3 exhibited 19.891% and 16.592% variability. In the first principal component analysis PC1 which accounted for the highest variability (37.836) and positively correlated with traits such as days to 50% flowering, number of effective tillers per plant and days to maturity. The second principal component PC2 accounted for 19.891% of total variability and is highly positively correlated with 100 seed weight, seed yield per plant and plant height. PC2 is highly loaded with genotype having increased 100 seed weight, seed yield and its attributing traits and in PC3 highly positively loaded traits like paddy length breadth ratio and 100 seed weight showed 16.592% of the total variability. All the principal components were showing positive contribution for yield and its attributing traits. These variations can be exploited in crop improvement programme for developing high yielding varieties.