Phenotypic correlation between morphological and yield related traits of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Rice is known as major staple food crop in India by providing food to more than 70 per cent population. An experiment was carried out in Alpha lattice design with two replications at ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR). An experiment was conducted during kharif season of year 2019 to study correlation and path coefficient analysis in 152 rice germplasm lines were collected. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes for all the 10 traits studied. Correlation studies revealed that grain yield per plant had positive and significant association plant height at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Hence, these characters should be given due consideration while applying selection for increasing yield. Results of path analysis indicated that the maximum direct effects for plant height, tiller number per plant, no. of un filled grains per panicle, panicle weight as well as appreciable indirect effects were exerted by days to 50% flowering, effective number of tillers, test weight, towards grain yield per plant. Therefore, selection pressure imposed on these traits would bring improvement in grain yield of rice.