Analysis of Genetic Variability and Correlation in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Recombinant Inbred Lines (F6) for Yield and Its Component Traits

Abstract

grain yield and its component traits in 150 rice recombinant inbred lines, their parents and six checks at ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad and AHRS, Kathalagere in wet 2022. The experiments were laid out in an augmented block design with five blocks. Phenotypic coefficients of variance were higher than genotypic coefficients of variance for all the traits across the locations. A joint consideration of high heritability in broad sense (h2) and genetic advance as per cent mean estimates were obtained for plant height, number of tillers, number of productive tillers, panicle length, number of grains per panicle, test weight, grain yield per plant suggesting that the traits were primarily under genetic control. Furthermore, high heritability (h2) and GAM recorded in these characters could be explained by additive gene action. However, high estimates (h2) combined with moderate GAM recorded for days to 50% flowering could be due to non-additive gene effect. Grain yield per plant recorded positive and significant correlation with the total number of grains per panicle (0.32***, 0.30***) and number of productive tillers per plant (0.21***, 0.26***) at both the locations. This result indicates that selection based on these two traits will be highly effective for yield improvement in rice.