Genetic Variability, Character Association and Path Analysis Studies in Rice Genotypes (Oryza sativa L.)

Forty rice genotypes were evaluated for their genetic variability, correlation and path analysis studies with respect to yield and its attributing traits at the Agricultural Research Station, Vadgaon Maval (Pune). The magnitude for test weight exhibited the highest GCV and PCV per cent, followed by flag leaf length, flag leaf breadth, infertile spikelets per panicle, fertile spikelets per panicle, grain yield per plant. High heritability (h2) along with higher genetic advance (GA) as per-cent of mean was recorded for the characters viz., fertile spikelets per panicle, total spikelets per panicle, panicle length, flag leaf length, flag leaf breadth and test weight. The grain yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated with productive tillers per plant, panicle length, flag leaf breadth, spikelet fertility % and test weight. Days to 50% flowering observed significant positive correlation with days to maturity and plant height. Days to maturity found positive correlation with plant height and productive tillers per plant, plant height with panicle length, flag leaf length and flag leaf breadth, productive tillers per plant with fertile spikelets per panicle, total spikelets per panicle, spikelet fertility, fertile spikelets per panicle with total spikelets per panicle and infertile spikelets per panicle with only total spikelets per panicle. The trait test weight observed highest direct positive effect on grain yield per plant followed by total spikelets per panicle, productive tillers per plant, days to maturity, flag leaf breadth, infertile spikelets per panicle, spikelet fertility %, and plant height. The trait flag leaf length indicated positive indirect effect on grain yield through days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and productive tillers per plant. Flag leaf breadth indicated significant positively correlation with grain yield through positive direct effect via indirect influence of plant height, panicle length, flag leaf length, spikelet fertility and test weight.