Phenotypic divergence for agromorphological traits among land races of traditional rice genotypes of West Bengal

A collection of 51 traditional rice cultivars from germplasm source of Zonal Adaptive Research Station (Z.A.R.S), Krishnagar, Nadia, West Bengal offered a valuable gene pool for the utilization in the breeding programme to improve yield, its components, grain size and shape. Characterization had been done on 28 agromorphological traits. Qualitative traits were studied using DUS Test in rice. Among the qualitative traits, considerable variability has been found for the traits like distribution of pubescence in leaf, panicle exsertion, colour of ligule and auricle, awning, leaf senescence, flag leaf attitude, basal leaf sheath colour etc. Statistical analysis was done and Mean, S.E. of Mean, GCV, PCV, CV%, Heritability, Genetic Advance were calculated for each quantitative trait to estimate the promise of desirable land races that are ideal for rice improvement programme. Regarding quantitative traits, leaf length, leaf breadth, plant height (seedling), culm length, culm number, ligule length, grain length, grain weight (1000), no. of grains per panicle showed considerable variability.