Assessment of genetic variability and diversity analysis in medium duration rice accessions

A total of 64 medium duration rice accessions were evaluated for their genetic variability and genetic divergence during Rabi season 2020 at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Karaikal. Analysis of variance revealed signifcant diferences for all the traits considered for the study. The traits spikelets per panicle and flled grains per panicle recorded high GCV as well as PCV thereby indicating that these traits would be improved efectively through selection. Other yield component traits viz., plant height, productive tillers per plant, spikelets per panicle, flled grains per panicle, fertility per cent, grain weight and single plant yield revealed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance, indicating that simple selection could be efective for improving these characters. The D² values and hierarchical clustering analysis grouped the 64 germplasm into seven clusters. In both the clustering methods, the genotype Gold 44 was grouped under separate clusters indicating that, this is a diverse genotype among all the genotypes taken for study. Further, genotype AD 16124 was grouped under the same cluster in both the clustering methods with the highest cluster mean for grain yield per plant. Hence, this genotype could be efciently utilized for the yield improvement programme in rice.