Evaluation of Rice Hybrids for Quantitative and Qualitative Characters for the Zone Mid Plains of Uttar Pradesh

Rice is the most important crop in the world, and used as staple food by morethan half of the world population. India, the home of rice, has nearly one third of the world's rice acreage but still suffers from a chronic shortage of the cereal. The knowledge of genetic variability in a given crop species for characters under improvement is important in any plant breeding programme. Through this study an attempt was made to assess the mean performance and extent of variability in rice germplasm. The mean performance of yield and its correspondent characters in rice were estimated from a trial with 36 rice hybrids evaluated for eighteen characters related to yield. The maximum number of filled grains per panicle was observed by genotype R-24 (251.93) followed by R-06 (246.20) and R-33(242.60). Highest head rice recovery was exhibited by genotype R-07 (73.38 per cent) followed by R-06 (72.37 per cent) and R-26 (71.63 per cent). Maximum grain yield per plant was depicted by genotype R-34(58.87 g) followed by R-06(43.13 g) and R-08(42.00 g). Analysis of variance revealed high significant differences for all the 18 characters studied. The genotypes having better mean values for yield and its attributing traits will be helpful to increase the yield level of farmers in mid plain zones of Uttar Pradesh.