Assessment of genetic variability, character association and path analysis for yield and yield component traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The present investigation was undertaken with 107 elite rice genotypes to study the variability, heritability andgenetic advance as per cent of mean for yield and yield component traits. In addition, character associationbetween the yield and yield components and their direct and indirect effects on grain yield were also studied. HighPCV and GCV were recorded for ear bearing tillers per plant, while high heritability were recorded for all the traitsstudied. Further, the high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for plant height, the number of earbearing tillers per plant, the total number of grains per panicle, test weight and grain yield per plant. Among these,ear bearing tillers per plant had recorded a high variability, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of meanin addition to correlation and direct effects with grain yield per plant indicating its effectiveness as importantselection criterion for the yield improvement.