Variability and diversity was assessed among 78 rice genotypes for various morphological traits including grain Fe and Zn content. Grain Fe and Zn content exhibited high genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation coupled with high heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean. In general, the overall composition of the clustering pattern showed that genotypes collected from the same geographic origin were included in same cluster. It was observed that Zinc content contributed maximum towards divergence followed by number of grains per panicle, grain length and grain breadth. The present study revealed that the clusters XV (T550), XIV (T366) and I (ADT 36, ADT 37, ADT 38, ADT 39, ADT 43, ADT 44, ADT 45, ADT 46, ADT 47, ADT 48, Local Aduthurai and T401) possessing the high mean values for most of the desirable traits could be crossed with clusters V (CO 47 and W.Ponni), VIII (GIZA 178 and T272) and XII (IR 68144-3B-2-2-3-3B-2-2-3) for simultaneous improvement of yield, grain Fe content and grain Zn content. Highest inter cluster distance was noticed between cluster XVI (T289) and cluster XV (T550) followed by cluster VIII (Giza 178 and T272) and cluster XVI (T289) indicating wide genetic diversity among these clusters. Intercrossing of these genotypes may create wide segregation in the segregating populations and promising progenies can be selected for yield improvement.
Rice, genotypes, Fe and Zn, Diversity
