Studies on Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance for Quantitative Traits in Red Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Mutant Lines

The genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for quantitative traits in 59 red rice mutant lines were investigated during kharif 2023 in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two replications. The existence of genetic variability among the genotypes was demonstrated by analysis of variance, which recorded significant differences for all the sixteen parameters. A wide range of genetic variability was noticed for days to fifty per cent flowering, days to maturity, number of grains and number of filled grains per panicle. Coefficient of variation studies implied that the estimates of GCV for all the characters studied was slightly less than PCV estimates indicating slight influence of environment on the genotype performance. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for the characters flag leaf length and width, number of productive tillers, panicle weight, number of grains and number filled grains per panicle, indicating that these characters are governed by additive gene action. Grain yield per plant exhibited positive and significant association with the traits like flag leaf length and width, panicle length, panicle weight, number of productive tillers per plant, number of grains and number of filled grains per panicle and spikelet fertility. A simple selection procedure can help to enhance these characteristics further.