EVALUATION OF GENE ACTION IN RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.) FOR MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS

Rice is an important cereal crop after wheat and maize. To study the combining ability effects of quantitative traits in rice, line × tester (4×3) progeny was generated involving 7 parents; 4 different lines, namely Super Basmati, Basmati 385, Basmati 515 and KSK 133, and 3 well-adapted testers, namely, Basmati 198, PK 386 and KS 282. Super basmati, Basmati 515, Basmati 198, Basmati 385, KSK 133, and PK 386 were found to be effective general combiners that provide excellent segregates for further selection. Basmati 385×KS 282, Super Basmati × KS 282, KSK 133 × PK 386, Super Basmati × PK 386 and Basmati 515 × KS 282 hybrid combinations have higher specific combining ability (SCA) effects on grain yield and its components and can be used to exploit hybrid vigor to increase yields. It was suggested that the genotypes Basmati 385, KS 282, Super Basmati, and PK 386 may be used for the development of high-yielding rice hybrids.