Assessment of genetic variability, character association and path analysis for yield and yield component traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

The present investigation was undertaken with 107 elite rice genotypes to study the variability, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean for yield and yield component traits. In addition, character association between the yield and yield components and their direct and indirect effects on grain yield were also studied. High PCV and GCV were recorded for ear bearing tillers per plant, while high heritability were recorded for all the traits studied. Further, the high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for plant height, the number of ear bearing tillers per plant, the total number of grains per panicle, test weight and grain yield per plant. Among these, ear bearing tillers per plant had recorded a high variability, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean in addition to correlation and direct effects with grain yield per plant indicating its effectiveness as important selection criterion for the yield improvement.