Genetic Variability and Correlation Studies for Yield and Yield Related Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The study aims to estimate the genetic parameters of 13 yield-attributing traits to study Genetic Variability and Correlation studies for yield and yield-related traits in rice. The investigation comprised of 20 Rice genotypes used for the experiment carried out during Kharif- 2022 in Randomized Block Design with three replications at the field Experimentation Center, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (Allahabad), India. The greater value of the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) compared to the corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the studied traits indicated that there was an influence of the environment on biological yield per plant, Grain yield per plant, and test weight. All of the traits had high heritability, indicating that direct selection of these characters based on phenotypic expression using a simple selection procedure for yield improvement would be more accurate. Grain yield per plant showed a significant and positive association with biological yield, panicle length, no of spikelets per panicle, plant height, test weight, flag leaf width, and days to maturity indicating selection of these characteristics for yield improvement may be rewarding. Both at phenotype and genotype levels Biological yield per plant, panicle length, no of spikelets per panicle, plant height, test weight, days to flowering, days to maturity, and flag leaf width had positive direct effects on grain yield per plant indicating their importance during selection in the yield improvement program. Furthermore, the data gained by this study can be used in future rice breeding programs.