Estimation of genetic variability parameters in rice ( Oryza sativa L.) gene bank in NEP Zone

The experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Genetics & Plant Breeding, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Narendra Nagar, Kumarganj, Faizabad (U. P.) during kharif, 2015. The experimental materials for this investigation comprised of 30 genotypes along with (two checks viz., Narendra Usar 3 and IR 28) of rice were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications during kharif, 2015 for thirteen characters viz., days to 50 % flowering, plant height (cm), flag leaf area, (cm2), panicle bearing tillers per plant, panicle length (cm), spikelets per panicle, grains per panicle, spikelet fertility (%), biological yield per plant (g), harvest index (%), L:B ratio, 1000-grains wt. (g) and grain yield per plant (g) under salt affected soil. The present investigation was under taken with the objectives to estimate genetic variability for yield and yield contributing components. The analysis of variance revealed that the mean sum of square due to treatments were highly significant for majority of the yield and its contributing traits, indicated sufficient variation among the treatment/materials under study. In general, PCV were higher than the GCV for all characters under salt affected soil indicates influence of environment. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance were observed for spikelets per panicle, grains per panicle, biological yield per plant, L:B ratio and grain yield per plant, it indicates the presence of additive gene action. Hence, emphasis should be given to select these quantitative traits to enhance the yield potential of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under salt affected soil.