Studies on Variability, Association and Path Analysis in Rice Landraces of Tamil Nadu

The present study aimed analyze the variability, correlation, and path analysis in 97 rice landraces of Tamil Nadu for ten quantitative characters. The Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation and Genotypic Coefficient of Variation of the traits, namely total number of tillers, productive tillers per plant, and yield per plant, were high, indicating that these traits were not affected by the environment. Moderate Phenotypic coefficient of variation and Genotypic Coefficient of Variation was observed for the traits days to 50% flowering, plant height, days to maturity, and test weight, indicating that selection based on the heritable nature of the trait would be effective. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as a percentage of mean was recorded for days to 50% flowering, plant height, the total number of tillers, productive tillers per plant, days to maturity, test weight, and plant yield. This shows that direct selection of these traits in crop improvement will be very effective because additive effects control these traits. In the association analysis, the plant height at the genotypic and phenotypic levels and test weight at the genotypic level showed a highly significant and significant positive correlation with plant yield. Path coefficient analysis shows that the total number of tillers, panicle length, decorticated grain length, and decorticated grain width had a strong positive effect on the performance of a single plant. Direct selection of characteristics such as plant height, test weight, the total number of tillers, panicle length, decorticated grain length, and decorticated grain width can increase single plant yield. Therefore, selection based on these traits for improving rice yield would be desirable.