Exploring the genetic diversity for yield and quality traits in indigenous landraces of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

An investigation on 41 genotypes of rice revealed that estimates of variability, heritability and genetic advance was high for grain yield plant^-1, gel consistency, number of filled grain panicle^-1,number of total grain panicle^-1, alkali spreading value, number of chaffy grain panicle^-1, grain size and test weight indicating the predominance of additive gene action for these traits. Mahalanobis D² analysis grouped 41 genotypes into 8 different clusters and grain breadth contributed maximum towards divergence. Maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster III and VII followed by cluster II and III indicating, maximum genetic diversity between these clusters. Character association and pathanalysis revealed that, among yield attributing characters, number of filled grains panicle^-1, number of total grain panicle^-1, harvest index, test weight, number of chaffy grains panicle^-1, number of panicles plant^-1 and grain length had significant positive association with grain yield plant^-1 and among grain quality traits, kernel length and kernel length after cooking exhibited significant association with amylose content.