Genetic variability studies of important yield attributing traits in rainfed upland rice (oryza sativa l.)

Abstract

In present study Variability, Heritability and Genetic advance were studied in 46 elite varieties and 3 established varieties of rice. The variability study revealed that considerable amount of variability was observed for all the 10 characters viz; Plant height, Panicle length, Number of spikelets per panicle, Number of tillers per plant, Days to 50% flowering, Days to maturity, Grain yield per panicle, grain yield per plant, grain yield per square metre and 1000 seed weight. The analysis of variance indicates that significant differences among all the genotypes for all the characters. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for plant height, number of spikelets per panicle, 1000 seed weight, Grain yield per panicle, grain yield per plant, grain yield per square metre indicating that these characters can be improved through direct selection since the additive gene action is being involved in the inheritance these characters. The characters number of spikelets per panicle expressed maximum genetic advance (44.21) followed by plant height (23.94) and days to 50% flowering (10.84).Hence it is suggested that these characters could be of great importance for selecting better genotype in the rice improvement programme.