ASSESSMENT OF VARIABILITY, HERITABILITY AND CORRELATION IN RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.) GENOTYPES

Abstract

The amount and pattern of genetic divergence are important factors in selecting desirable genotypes for use in breeding programmes. This research was conducted in Kabre, Dolakha, Nepal in 2020. Twelve rice genotypes were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications to determine the genetic diversity among rice genotypes. The results showed that there was highly significant differences among the evaluated genotypes for plant height, panicle length, number of tillers/plant, thousand-grain weight and grain yield. Maximum grain yield was observed in NR11236-B-B-25 (5.24 t/ha), which was followed by IR88965-39-1-6-4 (4.29 t/ha), and NR11321-B-B-77-3 (4.09 t/ha). These genotypes were selected as outstanding genotypes. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all traits. The maximum values of genotypic coefficient of variation (21.34%), phenotypic coefficient of variation (25.42%) and genetic advance as percent of mean (36.91 %) were found for the trait grain yield followed by number of tillers/plant (15.99%, 21.44% and 24.58%, respectively) and plant height (8.46%, 10.16 % and 14.51%, respectively). Grain yield showed moderate positive correlation with thousand grain weight (r = 0.46**) and panicle length (r = 0.35*). Therefore, significantly correlated traits having high heritability can be used as selection indices for indirect selection for the improvement of rice productivity.

Keywords

• rice
• variability
• heritability
• genetic advance
• correlation