Identification of Best Heterotic Cross Combinations for Physical Quality Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Line x tester analysis was carried out from 10 selected entries with seven lines and three testers which were selected based on their high grain number and high grain weight. Heterosis and heterobeltiosis among 21 crosses for physical quality traits viz., kernel length, kernel breadth, L/B Ratio, hulling percentage, milling percentage and head rice recovery were analysed. All the hybrids recorded positive and significant heterosis values for the trait head rice recovery, seven hybrids for kernel length, three hybrids for L/B ratio, four hybrids for hulling percentage and fourteen hybrids for milling percentage were recorded positive and significant heterosis and four hybrids recorded significant negative heterosis for kernel breadth which is desirable for development of fine grain types.