Genetics of yield and yield components in scented rice

Parental, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 generations of four crosses involving scented and non-scented rice varieties were studied for days to 50% flowering, plant height, panicle number plant-1, panicle length, number of grains panicle-1, 1000 grain weight, grain length, length breadth-1 ratio and grain yield plant-1. A simple three parameter model was adequate for the variability in respect of days to 50% flowering, panicle number plant-1 and grain length. Among the digenic interaction models both five and six parameter models were fitted for almost all the characters. The dominance effects were more important than the additive effects in most of the crosses. The duplicate type of epistasis was present with the exception of panicle length in cross Muskbudhi x Ratna in which the complementary type of epistasis was evident. Recurrent selection or diallele selective mating seems to be the best method to improve the grain yield and other attributes in scented rice.