Selection of traits for yield improvement in rice through interactions of yield-related traits in F2 population

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyse the correlation and path coefficients among 240 F2 segregants derived from the cross MTU 1121 × Pusa 44 NIL to establish selection criteria for developing high-yielding genotypes. These 240 individual plants were assessed for 10 distinct yield related traits. Phenotypic correlation studies showed that single plant yield was significantly and positively associated with number of productive tillers (0.67***), total grains per panicle (0.37***), number of filled grains per panicle (0.39***), spikelet fertility (0.24***) and test weight (0.19**). Path analysis indicated that solitarily number of productive tillers had strong direct effect on single plant yield and spikelet fertility exerted medium direct effect, which are utmost importance for direct selection for yield improvement whereas other traits with significant correlations showed weak direct effects, suggesting their secondary role in yield improvement.