Correlation and Path Analysis for Yield and Grain Yield Attributing Quality Characters of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes under Irrigated Condition

During the kharif season of 2022, a set of 27 rice genotypes were evaluated for the study of "Correlation and path coefficient analysis for yield and grain yield contributing characters in rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes" using an RBD with three replications at the research field of Department of Genetics and Plant breeding, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Naini Allahabad, U.P. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes for all 13 characters indicating that the material has adequate genetic variability to support the breeding programme for improving the grain yield of rice. Out of 27 rice genotypes evaluated for various characters, four genotypes were found superior for different characters. These four genotypes were found to be better for more than one character. Among the lines SIVA (26.83), KRISHNA (26.19g), RDR-8702 (25.79g) andSS-999 (24.48g) recorded high grain yield per hill. All these genotypes recorded significantly high yield as compared to the check NDR-359 (CHECK) (22.67g). High estimate of heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was recorded for spikelets per panicle, biological yield, harvest index, test weight and grain yield per hill. These traits are governed by additive gene effects and therefore, may be improved through direct selection. Grain yield per hill correlated positively and significantly with flag leaf width, biological yield, harvest index, and test weight. Harvest index, biological yield, days to maturity, and number of panicles per hill all had a significant positive direct effect on grain yield per hill at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Thus, selections for these characters will be proved efficient for the improvement of grain yield of rice.