Genetic Parameters and Selection Indices in F3 Progenies of Hill Rice Genotypes

The F3 population of eighteen different cross combinations using five local and seven exotic genotypes was used to study the genetic parameters, heritability, correlation and path coefficients for fourteen quantitative characters under temperate conditions. The selected progenies showed highly significant difference for most of the agro-morphological characters. Comparatively high phenotypic coefficients of variation were observed for all the character than genotypic coefficient variation. High heritability (%) was recorded for days to 50% flowering (96%) followed by days to maturity (95%) and grain yield per plant (84%). High genetic advance were observed for grain yield (47%) followed by biological yield/plant (27%) and harvest index (25%). Days to 50% flowering was positively and significantly correlated with days to maturity, grain length with LB ratio flag leaf length with grain breadth and panicle length with grain breadth at genotypic level. Path coefficient analysis revealed that harvest index and biological yield has highest direct effect on yield followed by days to maturity and number of grain per panicle. Biological yield per plant has highest indirect effect on yield via days to flowering followed by grain weight via biological yield per plant, grain breadth via days to 50 % flowering and flag leaf length via biological yield per plant. Therefore, information on the genetic parameters such as coefficient of variation, heritability, genetic advance and the influence of environment on the expression of these characters will help the breeder to evolve suitable cultivars within a short time for hill ecologies.