Genetic Variability and Association Analysis in Aromatic Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Accessions

The present study was undertaken with an objective to determine the nature and magnitude of variability, degree of association between yield and its component traits, and their direct and indirect effects on grain yield. Hundred aromatic rice accessions were evaluated using augmented experimental design for 20 agro-morphological and quality traits. The parameters of genetic variability revealed high variation for kernel length breadth ratio followed by the number of filled spikelets per panicle, kernel length after cooking, number of spikelets per panicle, kernel length, effective tillers per plant and grain length, indicating sufficient variation for most of the traits studied. Correlation studies indicated significant positive association of grain yield per plant with days to 50% flowering, number of spikelets per panicle, number of filled spikelets per panicle, spikelet fertility per cent, hulling %, milling %, head rice recovery %, kernel breadth and kernel breadth after cooking. The result of path analysis revealed that the kernel length had maximum direct effect on grain yield per plant followed by number of filled spikelets per panicle, kernel breadth, 1000 grain weight, kernel elongation ratio, head rice recovery %, kernel length breadth ratio and plant height. Considering all the parameters together it could be concluded that the traits like number of filled spikelets per panicle, 1000 grain weight, kernel length, kernel breadth, kernel length breadth ratio, kernel elongation ratio and head rice recovery % may be given due importance in selection for crop improvement programme.