Genetic diversity studies in selected elite genotypes and released varieties of Rice

Abstract

An experiment was undertaken by utilizing fifty selected elite genotypes and released varieties of rice for ten yields and yield contributing characters to assess genetic divergence at Zonal Agriculture Research Station, Igatpuri, Dist. Nashik during kharif-2020. Path coefficient analysis revealed that test weight exhibited highest positive direct effect on grain yield plant^-1 and subsequently by spikelet fertility, number of panicles plant^-1, plant height, number of spikelet panicle^-1, panicle length and days to physiological maturity. Whereas, number of fertile spikelet panicle^-1 recorded the highest negative direct effect on grain yield plant^-1. The characters viz; number of panicles plant^-1, number of spikelet panicle^-1, spikelet fertility, test weight had exerted significant positive direct effect on grain yield plant^-1 and correlation of these characters with grain yield plant^-1 was positively significant. Fifty genotypes were grouped into eight clusters. Cluster II was biggest and consisted of 19 genotypes followed by cluster I with 11 genotypes. The cluster III and V both were consist of 8 genotypes. All remaining clusters viz. cluster IV, VI, VII and VIII were solitary. Intra cluster distance was ranged from zero (cluster IV, VI, VII and VIII) to 13.15 (cluster V). The highest intra cluster distance was observed in cluster V followed by cluster III, cluster II and cluster I. From the inter cluster D² values of the eight clusters, it can be seen that the highest divergence occurred between cluster VII and VIII followed by cluster I and VI, cluster VI and VII suggesting that the crosses involving varieties from these clusters would give wider and desirable recombination.

Keywords:-Cluster, correlation, genetic diversity, Rice