Character association and Path analysis in rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes evaluated under organic management

Abstract

The present investigation is carried out at College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kerala Agricultural University, to study the character association and path analysis in sixty-five genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under organic management. Among the correlation coefficients of thirteen growth characteristics with grain yield plant-1, for the characteristics chlorophyll content of flag leaf, chlorophyll content of third leaf, number of tillers plant-1at 30DAT, the genotypic correlation coefficients were higher than phenotypic correlation coefficients, indicating the less influence of environment on these characters. However, in the case of parameters namely, number of tillers plant-1at 60DAT, number of tillers plant-1at 90DAT and number of tillers plant-1at harvest, the phenotypic correlation coefficients were higher than genotypic correlation coefficients, which indicates that the influence of environment on these characters is high. Among these characters, number of tillers at harvest and number of tillers at 60DAT possessed both positive association and direct effects. Hence, selection for these characters could bring improvement in organic rice yield improvement programmes.