Genetic insights into yield potential in advanced rice cultures: A multivariate analysis of yield components

The goal of the current study was to unravel the extent of genetic variability, genetic advance, broad sense heritability, intra- and inter-character relationships and principal component analysis of yield and yield component traits in 62 advanced rice cultures. The Phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than Genotypic Coefficient of variation for all the traits implying that these characters are influenced by environment effects. High PCV and GCV were observed for number of grains per panicle, test weight and grain yield per hectare. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean were observed for number of grains per panicle and test weight indicating that these traits were mainly governed by additive gene effects and response to selection could be affected for further yield improvement through simple selection. Correlation analysis displayed that grain yield (Kg/hectare) exhibited highly significant positive association with test weight (0.72**) and panicle length (0.50**). Principal component analysis found that first four principal components with eigen value more than one contributed to total variation of 83.1%. The varieties viz., M 962, M 682, M 696, M 699, E 663, E 647 and E 666 were identified as promising divergent varieties which can be exploited for developing rice varieties in future or in further breeding programme.