Genetic Variability and Association of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) for Yield and Yield Components

The present study consists of 21 rice genotypes including one check variety that were evaluated in 2021 to study genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient for thirteen quantitative characters. Observation recorded to study the genetic variability parameters, correlation coefficient and path coefficient for yield and its attributing traits. On the basis of mean performance MTU-1224 was found to be superior in grain yield per hill followed by, BPT-329, KNM-118 and MTU-1001 to give higher yield over the check (NDR 359). High to moderate estimates of GCV and PCV were recorded for grain yield per plant followed by, harvest index, test weight, biological yield, number of spikelet per panicle, flag leaf width and number of total tillers. Grain yield indicated significant positive correlation with biological yield followed by harvest index and number of spikelet per panicle in terms of both phenotypic and genotypic level. Path coefficient analysis showed positive significant direct effects on number of spikelet’s per panicle, number of productive tillers, harvest index, test weight, panicle length, days to fifty percent flowering, flag leaf length and biological yield at genotypic level whereas it showed positive and significant direct effect for harvest index, biological yield., test weight, flag leaf width, number of productive tillers, number of spikelet’s per panicle and day to maturity at phenotypiclevel. Thus, these traits are identified as the efficient and potential for indirect selection for the improvement of rice productivity in the present experimental materials.