Vol. 13, Issue 10 (2024)

Author(s):
Shahina A Nagoo, ZI Buhroo, Sabiha Ashraf, Masrat Bashir, Shabina Majeed, Sabiya Bashir, Zahida Rashid, Baseerat Afroza and MF Baqual

Abstract:
The present investigation was undertaken to obtain information on the variability and genetic divergence with respect to various quantitative traits among 42 genotypes of rice. The experiment was laid out in the Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The observations were recorded on 28 characters. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for all the traits studied. The maximum range was recorded for grains per panicle followed by biological yield, plant height, flag leaf area and days to maturity. The highest phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variability were observed for yield followed by harvest index, biological yield and flag leaf area. In general, the phenotypic coefficients of variation were slightly higher than genotypic coefficients of variation, which indicates the minor role of environment in the expression of traits under observation. The estimates of heritability in broad sense were high for all the characters. Correlation coefficients revealed that the grain yield per plant exhibited significant positive association with no. of grains per panicle, 1000 grain weight, panicle length and number of tillers per plant. The characters biological yield per plant contributed maximum towards genetic divergence followed by 1000 grain weight, plant height, panicle length number of filled grains per panicle and days to 50% flowering. Correlation coefficient of seed and seedling related traits revealed significant differences for all the characters among different genotypes. The present investigation indicated a great scope of in the improvement of these traits as these characters in general possessed high estimates of heritability coupled with high genetic advance except panicle length,1000 grain weight and days to maturity (high heritability but moderate genetic gain) indicating the preponderance of additive gene action for control of these traits.