Vol. 12, Issue 2 (2023)

Author(s):
Renuprasath P, N Meenakshi Ganesan, K Sathiya Bama, P Boominathan and R Suresh

Abstract:
Rice production was hampered by increased prevalence of abiotic stresses due to ever changing climates. Drought being major abiotic stress, negatively impacts yield mainly during reproductive stage. Determining the major contributing traits, their association with yield as well as inter-relationship between the traits will be helpful in selecting best progenies. In the present study early segregating backcrossed population (BC₂F₂) of ADT(R) 45/Way Rarem was evaluated to assess the genetic variability parameters, trait association and direct and indirect effects among yield and yield components. The results revealed that high estimates of PCV, GCV, broad sense heritability coupled with high genetic advance for three traits viz., single plant yield, number of productive tillers per plant and total number of tillers per plant, which infers prevalence of additive gene action and these three traits majorly contributed for variation in the population. Correlation analysis showed single plant yield had highly significant positive association with number of productive tillers per plant, total number of tillers per plant, spikelet fertility and hundred grain weight. Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of productive tillers per plant exhibit high positive direct effect on single plant yield followed by hundred grain weight. Based on correlation, direct and indirect effects of correlation coefficients, selection for four traits viz., number of productive tillers per plant, total number of tillers per plant, spikelet fertility and hundred grain weight would be rewarding.