Selection strategy through genetic association studies for improvement of yield and quality under organic fertilizer management in rice (Oryza sativa l.)

The association among yield and quality components, their direct and indirect influence on grain yield in 32 genotypes of rice was carried out under organic fertilizer management. Grain yield per plant was significantly and positively correlated with its component characters like days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, number of effective tillers per plant, panicle length, number of grains per panicle and harvest index. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the direct effect of days to 50% flowering on grain yield was the highest, followed by number of grains per panicle and harvest index, suggesting that e. the improvement in grain yield could be efficient, if the selection is based on these component characters under organic fertilizer management in rice.