Genetic Diversity, Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis in Kalanamak Advanced Lines of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Eighty-eight advanced lines of Kalanamak aromatic rice were studied to measure nature and magnitude of genetic divergence, character association and path analysis for 10 quantitative characters. The advanced lines have been generated from four diff erent crosses of Kalanamak × Kalanamak accessions and Kalanamak × Basmati crosses. Pooled data analysis revealed, high order of divergence between cluster I and VII (252.04) followed by cluster I and VIII (219.35) and cluster III and VII (219.28). Maximum intra-cluster distance was observed among the advanced lines viz., PMS-23, PMS-29, PMS-24, PMS-25, PMS-33, PMS-30 and these lines have been evolved from a cross of Kalanamak (3131-SN) and Basmati (PB-1). 1000-grain weight contributed maximum towards divergence (37.25%) followed by plant height (30.25%) and number of filled grains per panicle (10.66%). Character association studies revealed significant positive association of grain yield with number of eff ective tillers per plant, followed by number of filled grains per panicle, number of spikelets per panicle and 1000-grain weight. Path co-efficient analysis revealed the maximum direct and indirect eff ect towards grain yield with number of spikelets per panicle followed by 1000-grain weight and others. Number of spikelets per panicle and 1000-grain weight showed significant positive association and also had maximum positive direct eff ect on grain yield, indicating that direct selection through these traits would be greatly eff ective for the improvement of grain yield in high value Kalanamak aromatic rice background. Selection of yield component traits viz. spikelets per plant and 1000-grain weight significantly contribute towards the total genetic divergence as well as have positive significant association on grain yield and may be helpful in identifying genetically diverse Kalanamak aromatic advanced lines, particularly to be exploited in further hybridization to execute efficient selection in segregating generations.