Study of incorporated diversity in phenotypic features of jnpt lines of rice

On the basis of DUS descriptor, 180 JNPT lines derived from Indica x Japonica subspecies crosses of rice (Oryza sativa L.) with five checks were characterized for different agro-morphological traits. A significant amount of variation was displayed for most of the traits examined. The result revealed that maximum variation was recorded in lemma and palea colour followed by panicle attitude of branches, leaf pubescence of blade surface, flag leaf attitude of blade (late), flag leaf attitude of blade (early), panicle distribution of awns, spikelet density of pubescence of lemma, panicle exsertion, panicle curvature of main axis, panicle secondary branching, culm attitude, panicle awns and leaf intensity of green colour. The variation found in varieties will be utilized for the selection of specific lines/varieties for protection, conservation and utilization for further breeding programme. This study will strengthen rice breeding programmes for the development of new varieties with specific traits resulting sustain for long time in seed chain. This also provides help to isolation of the specific variety in the mixture of other lines.