Genetic Divergence Analysis for Grain Yield and Associated Traits of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Irrigated Condition

In this current study, a comprehensive examination encompassing 72 distinct rice genotypes from the Germplasm collection was conducted. Notable checks, Sarjoo-52, NDR-2065, and MTU-7029, exhibited a broad spectrum of variations in multiple traits during the kharif season of 2022. The assessment, conducted at CRS Masodha of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Narendra Nagar (Kumarganj), Ayodhya, involved a meticulously designed experiment with 8 blocks and 11 plots each. The parameters under scrutiny included days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, panicle length, number of productive tillers per plant, flag leaf area, fertile spikelet per panicle, spikelet fertility percentage per panicle, biological yield, harvest index, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield. Employing non-hierarchical Euclidean cluster analysis, the 72 genotypes were classified into 11 clusters. Cluster (IX) exhibited the highest number of entries (9), followed by clusters (V), (VIII), and (XI) with 8 entries each. Clusters (I), (VI), and (VII) comprised 7 entries each, while clusters (II), (III), and (IV) contained 6 entries each, and cluster (X) had only 3 entries. Noteworthy intra-cluster and inter-cluster distances were observed, with cluster (X) displaying the highest intra-cluster distance (27.97) and cluster (I) exhibiting the lowest (3.88). The maximum inter-cluster distance was noted between cluster (X) and cluster (IV) (36.24), while the minimum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster (VII) and cluster (VI) (12.516). Lines from distinct clusters demonstrating high-performance traits in the desired direction may be considered as potential parental choices for future breeding programs.