GENETIC VARIABILITY, HERITABILITY AND CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS OF YIELD AND ITS COMPONENT TRAITS IN BASMATI RICE (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice is the premier staple food among the Indian population. Therefore, a better insight to the association of yield with its component traits can be helpful in improving the paddy yield. The present study was carried out using 140 F-7 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) population with the aim of determining the character association, genetic variability and the heritability of yield along with its 5 components. The RILs were evaluated for yield and its associated traits during kharif 2014 and kharif 2015. The results corresponding to analysis of variance showed highly significant differences prevail amongst all the RILs for yield and its component traits. The traits tillering ability, spikelet fertility percentage, number of grains per panicle and 1000-grain weight showed significant positive genotypic and phenotypic correlation with grain yield during 2014 and 2015. Panicle length exhibited significant positive and negative association with grain yield during 2014 and 2015 respectively. The presence of slightly higher phenotypic coefficient of variation than genotypic coefficient of variation indicated the negligible influence of environment on the expression of yield and its component traits. High heritability >80% had been observed for yield and associated traits during the study, suggesting that these traits would respond to selection owing to their high genetic variability and transmissibility. A thorough understanding of the inheritance of traits, their heritability and relationship with other important characteristics is important for the choice of breeding and selection methods for crop improvement.