Genetic Variability for Hull Weight Ratio and their Inter-relationship with other Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Study on the variability and correlations for hull weight, grain weight, kernel weight, hull weight ratio (proportion of hull weight to grain weight) and kernel weight ratio (proportion of kernel weight to grain weight) in rice revealed substantial amount of variability. The broad sense heritability ranged from 66.6% for panicle length to 98.6% for 100-grain weight. Hull weight, kernel weight and grain weight had positively signifi cant genotypic and phenotypic correlation among themselves. Hull weight ratio showed signifi cantly negative correlation with grain weight and kernel weight. Distinct varietal differences for hull weight and grain weight ratios suggest the possibilities of breeding rice with lower hull weight ratio to further improve the marketable yield of rice.