Studies on Genetic Variability of Grain Yield and Quality in F2 and F3 Generations of Aromatic Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The present investigation was carried out for yield and quality related traits in the F2 and F3 populations of twenty eight rice cross combinations developed from five aromatic (Pusa 1121, Improved Pusa Basmati, Basmati 370, Sumathi and RNR 2354) and three non-aromatic (BPT 5204, Akshyadhan and NLR 145) parents. In F2 generation, among the yield characters, the highest values of phenotypic co-efficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) were recorded for the number of filled grains/panicle followed by grain yield per plant while the lowest values were recorded for days to 50% flowering. However, for the grain quality characters the highest PCV and GCV values were recorded for head rice recovery and lowest for kernel breadth. In F3 population, higher magnitudes of PCV and GCV were recorded for the number of filled grains/panicle and panicle weight, indicating greater scope of obtaining high selection response for these traits. High heritability in narrow sense along with medium to high genetic advance was noticed for the traits like days to 50% flowering, 1000 grain weight and the kernel traits.