Vol. 11, Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
M Vijayakumari, M Arumugam Pillai, P Senguttuvel, S Saravanan and J Sheela

Abstract:
Rice, being the staple food, is consumed in a huge quantity, which demands for its higher production. In order to satisfy the food security needs of the expanding global population, rice producers are adopting the promising "Direct Seeded Aerobic Rice" technology, which promises to save water. The current study is aimed at exploring the variability present amongst the test genotypes and uncovering the correlation among different yields and yield-attributing traits. 96 genotypes under study manifested moderate GCV and PCV and narrow differences between GCV and PCV for all the six traits viz., days to fifty per cent flowering (DFF), plant height (PH), panicle length (PL), spikelet fertility (SF), productive tillers (PT) and single plant yield (SPY). These traits were least influenced by the environment. In the present study, all the traits except productive tiller showed high heritability, genetic advance, and genetic advance over mean, indicating high variation among the genotypes and additive gene effects. Single plant yield as well as expressed high heritability, and genetic advance over mean. The study also indicated that four traits, viz., PT, PL, PH and SF showed a positive significant correlation with SPY. However, DFF had a significant negative correlation with SPY. Hence, these traits can be improved by simple phenotypic selection, which can be further used for selection programmes. Overall, 26 genotypes were chosen as the most promising lines for future breeding programmes under aerobic field conditions.