Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad 580 005 (Karnataka).
1 Corresponding author: Professor of Forestry, College of Forestry, Sirsi 581 401 (Karnataka).
Genetic variability parameters such as phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation (PCV & GCV). heritability and genetic advance (GA) for various morphological and physiological characters were estimated in 40 genotypes of rainfed rice (Oryza sativa L.). High estimates of PCV and GCV were observed for net assimilation rate, harvest index, absolute growth rate and crop growth rate, where as, moderate to high estimates of PCV and GCV were recorded for plant height, leaf area index, total dry matter, specific leaf weight and grain yield per plant, indicating wide variability in the material for these traits. However, there was little variability in the material for days to 50% flowering, total tillers, effective tillers, photosynthetic rate, spikelets per panicle, 1000-grain weight and panicle length. High heritability and high genetic advance indicate scope for improvement through simple selection for harvest index, 1000-grain weight, grain yield per plant and net assimilation rate.
Rainfed rice, variability, heritability, yield
