Agro-morphological variability and diversity in traditional upland rice of eastern India

Abstract

The forty eight upland rice germplasm landraces were collected from natural habitat of Eastern India to estimate their variability and genetic divergence for fourteen quantitative traits. The highest genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for total number of grains per panicle, filled grains per panicle and number of effective tillers per plant. The accessions were grouped into eight clusters. The cluster III contained the highest 18 accessions followed by clusters I comprised 9 accessions and cluster II and IV have 6 accessions each, while cluster VI and V have 4 and 3 accessions, respectively. Clusters VII and VIII were monogenotypic which maintain their distinct identity falling in separate clusters. The clusters VIII had highest mean values for panicle length, test weight, total number of grains per panicle and kernel length, followed by cluster VI for days to maturity, leaf width and kernel breadth. Therefore, the result suggested that these accessions would be utilized as donor parent for accumulation of favourable genes in future breeding programme.