CHARACTER ASSOCIATION AND PATH ANALYSIS OF T. AMAN RICE VARIETIES (Oryza saliva L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during June 2012 to December 2012 to study the character association and path analysis of 15 T. Aman rice varieties (Oiyza saliva L.) in randomized block design with three replications. Analysis of variance for each trait showed significant differences among the varieties. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was also close to genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) for all the characters indicating maximum environmental influence on the expression of these characters. High heritability associated with high genetic advance in percent of mean was observed for plant height and thousand seed weight which indicated that selection for these characters would be effective. Rice yield per plant had highest significant positive correlation with Primary branches per panicle (0 = 0.709 and P = 0.520) which indicating that, if primary branches per panicle increase, grain yield per plant increase. Path coeflicient analysis revealed that grain yield and filled grains per panicle had the highest positive direct effect on seed. Hence, thrust has to be given for these characters in future breeding programme to improve the yield in rice. Multivariate analysis based on 10 agrononlic characters indicated that the 15 varieties were grouped into four distant clusters. The inter cluster distance was maximum between cluster II and cluster IV. The highest intra-cluster distance was found in cluster IV. From the results it can be concluded that the following varieties viz., 08 (BRRI dhan40), 010 (BRRI dhan44). 011 (BRRI dhan46), 012 (BRRI dhan49) and 015 (BINA dhanl) may be suggested for future hybridization pro&am