Comparing Correlation Coefficients and Path Analysis in Different Populations of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

This study performed to determine the correlation, their comparison and path coefficients of yield and yield contributing characters by using F2 (BPT-5204 /IR-64Drt1) their two parents separately and the joint parental populations. In this study, the computations for testing the significance of the difference between the 15 traits of different populations of rice determined from 324 F2, 9 IR-64Drt1 (P1), 9 BPT-5204 (P2) and 18 joint parental population. Results showed that the correlation of F2 indicated that the number of total tillers per plant, number of panicles per plant, plant height, panicle length, biomass, harvest index and yield per panicle were positive and significant association with yield per plant. Correlation of IR-64Drt1 stated that the plant height, panicle length, biomass and harvest index were positive and significant association with yield per plant. Correlation of BPT-5204 shown that the secondary branches per panicle and hundred-grain weight exhibited positive and significant association with yield per panicle. Correlation of the joint parent indicated that the plant height, panicle length, grain length, grain width, hundred-grain weight, biomass, harvest index and yield per panicle had exhibited positive and significant association with yield per plant. Path coefficient analysis indicated that harvest index had the highest direct positive effect (0.582) on yield per plant in the F2 population. However, the panicles per plant had the highest direct positive effect (1.481) on yield per plant IR-64Drt1 population. The total tillers per plant had the highest direct positive effect (1.821) on yield per plant in BPT-5204 population. In the joint population of BPT-5204 and IR-64Drt1, path analysis of yield components revealed that the biomass had the highest direct positive effect (0.658) on yield per plant. Information obtained in this study revealed that traits, the harvest index, biomass and panicles per plant are suggested as selection indices for grain yield improvement at segregating populations of rice.