Author(s):

Naru Rajasekhar Reddy, Suresh Babu G and GR Lavanya

Abstract: In the present investigation, thirty four genotypes of rice were evaluated to assess the genetic divergence among them. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design with three replications at Field Experimentation Centre, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, prayagraj (Allahabad), during kharif-2018. The data were recorded for thirteen quantitative characters to study genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and genetic divergence. Analysis of variance among 34 rice genotypes showed highly significant differences for all the characters under study indicated the presence of substantial amount of genetic variability. High estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was observed for panicles per plant followed by tillers per plant indicating that these characters could be used as selection for crop improvement. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for spikelets per panicle. Based on relative magnitude of D² values, the genotypes were grouped into seven clusters by Euclidean methods of divergence study. Cluster I constituted maximum number of genotypes with twenty eight genotypes and clusters II,III,IV,V,VI,VII had one genotype each. Maximum inter-cluster distance (D²) was observed between cluster VII and IV, followed by cluster VII and I, suggesting that the genotypes from these clusters can be selected to yield superior segregants and further genetic improvement. Maximum genetic divergence was exhibited by days to maturity (25.49%), followed by spikelets per panicle (15.69), and biological yield per plant (15.33), days to 50% flowering (10.16), grain yield per plant (7.31). Therefore, days to maturity, plant height, spikelets per panicle, biological yield, days to 50%flowering, grain yield per plant contributing to 73.98% of the total divergence need to be focused in selection of parents for hybridization programme.

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