Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Analysis for Quantitative Characters in Rainfed Upland Rice of Uttarakhand Hills

Abstract

Genetic parameter, correlation coefficients among yield and yield components, direct and indirect effect of yield components on yield were studied in eighteen rice genotypes under rainfed ecosystem for fifteen quantitative traits. The analysis of variance revealed that there were highly significant differences for all the characters among the genotypes. The estimate of GCV and PCV was found to be highest for grain yield per plot followed by fertile grains per panicle and grains per panicle. The broad sense heritability was highest for plant height and fertile grains per panicle (98.14%) followed by grains per panicle (97.74%), days to 50 per cent flowering (95.18) and days to maturity (94.71). The estimate of genetic advance was found to be highest for grains per panicle and fertile grains per panicle. The number of grains per panicle and fertile grains per panicle had high heritability as well as high genetic advance. The phenotypic correlation coefficient among fifteen traits showed that grain yield was significantly and positively correlated with plant height, days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, panicle length, grains per panicle, fertile grains per panicle, kernel length and L/B ratio. The estimates of direct and indirect effect revealed that L/B ratio had the highest positive direct effect on grain yield followed by kernel width, grains per panicle, and tillers per plant.