Assessment of Genetic Variability for Qualitative and Quantitative Traits in Local Rice Cultivars of Gudalur Valley of the Nilgiris

In the present study, characterization of 21 local rice genotypes was carried out for 16 DUS characters. The leaf and leaf sheath anthocyanin coloration was absent in all the genotypes. A total of eight traits viz., leaf pubescence of blade surface, leaf length of blade, leaf width of blade, flag leaf, panicle awns, panicle presence of secondary branching, panicle secondary branching and panicle exertion were dimorphic. Three traits basal leaf sheath colour, leaf intensity of green colour, culm attitude were found to be trimorphic. Remaining three traits namely flag leaf attitude of blade, panicle curvature of main axis and panicle attitude of branches were found to be tetramorphic. The genotype mundamaranellu was found to be distinct for erect culm, erect flag leaf and presence of awns and these genotypes can be used as donor for rice breeding program. The cultivars Thondi and mullampunchan (106 days) were found to be early on days to 50% flowering among all the genotypes evaluated. All genotypes exhibited significant differences for eight quantitative traits. The high PCV and GCV was recorded for plant height, number of productive tillers and single plant yield. The highest heritability and high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed in plant height, number of panicles per plant, number of productive tillers, 1000grain weight, single plant yield and these characters could be further improved by following simple selection procedure.