Estimation of Genetic Variability and Correlation S tudies for Grain Zinc Concentrations and Yield Related Traits in Selected Rice (O r y z a S a t i v aGenotypes

Abstract

Sixty four rice genotypes were grown in University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore in wet se ason of 2010 to study the variability parameters, correlation and path co efficient for grain zinc concentrations and yield rtraits. Significant genotypic differences were observed for all the tra its studied indicating considerable amount of varia tion among genotypes for all the characters. The estimates of phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) and genotypic coef ficients of variation (GCV) were high for grain zinc concentration, numbe r of tillers per plant, number of productive tillers per plant and grain yield per plant. Remaining showed moderate PCV and GCV except days to maturity with low PCV and GCV va lue. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as p ercent mean were recorded for all the traits except days to maturity. Correlation studies showed highly significant and p ositive correlation between grain yield per plant w ith plants height (0.379), grain Zn concentration with 100 grain weig ht (0.268), number of tillers per plant with number of productive tillers per plant (0.906). Significant correlations between different traits can be used to conduct indirect s election of a desired trait. Linear regression studies for the relationship betw een grain Zn concentration and grain yield per plan t showed absence of correlation between these traits. The path-coeffici ent analysis indicated high positive direct effect of number of productive tillers per plant, plant height and grain breadth o n grain yield per plant whereas, grain Zn concentra tion had a negative direct effect on grain yield.