Principal component analysis and genetic divergence studies for yield and quality-related attributes of rice restorer lines

A study on genetic diversity and principal component analysis (PCA) in a set of 90 fertility restorer lines of rice was conducted to identify potential parents for producing high-yielding hybrids. The D2 statistics uncovered the maximum inter-cluster distance between the clusters having different genotypes. The genotypes PS 2, PRR 828, JR-4322-2, and JR-4322-2 belonging to these diversified gene pools may produce heterotic hybrid combinations involving the most suitable parents mentioned above. The PCA reduces dimensional complexity into nine principle axes with PC1 account maximum variable genotypes, namely, JR-1009, ANP-553, JR-1062-1, JR-1103-1, JR-1023-1, JR-1054-4, IR09N 261, JR-1008, NPT-3806, and JR-81. Considering the magnitude of genetic distance, the per cent contribution of traits towards divergence (fertile spikelet/plant and total spikelet/plant) along with the highest cluster means of these traits reflected by the genotypes belonging to clusters, IX and X. The most quality attributes were included in PC4 and PC5 containing genotypes NPT 10, R710, and JR1301. The diversified gene pool and intensive selection designed for varietal development followed by molecular characterization give a precise idea about the upcoming utilization of existing genetic diversity.