An insight into variability and association among yield and its components under alkalinity and inland salinity stress in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the variability, correlation, direct and indirect effects of yield and its
attributing traits in 36 genotypes and to identify suitable parents for breeding of alkalinity and inland salinity
stress tolerant lines at ARS, Kampasagar, Nalgonda during rabi, 2021-22. Analysis of variance revealed plenteous
quantum of variation among the tested genotypes. Wide variation, high PCV, GCV, heritability and genetic
advance were observed for seedling mortality, sterility percentage and number of filled grains per panicle.
Number of productive tillers/hill and number of filled grains per panicle had a positive and significant correlation
with yield whereas seedling mortality and sterility percentage had a negative and significant association with
yield. Path analysis inferred that traits such as number of productive tillers/hill, number of grains per panicle
and 1000 grain weight had a positive direct effect on yield. Hence,priority should be given to the above
mentioned traits to develop alkalinity and inland saline tolerant rice cultivars. Lines CT118911, Sahel177,
M202, and KPS10654 were found promising to be utilized as tolerant parents in the breeding programmes.