Interrelationship and Cause - Effect Analysis for Yield and Yield Attributing Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes

The basic aim of plant breeders is to improve the yielding potential of existing varieties along with creation of new high yielding varieties. This experiment was carried out to study the association of yield and yield attributing traits along with path coefficient analysis among twenty rice genotypes. Analysis of variance revealed the existence of significant differences in genotypes for all the characters studied. Grain yield had positive significant association with ear bearing tillers/m2 (0.5395**/0.6264**), number of filled grains per panicle (0.5236**/0.5774**) and test weight (0.2575*/0.2560*) and days to 50 percent flowering (0.3294**/0.3648**), It indicates that these characters are important for yield improvement. Path coefficient analysis revealed maximum positive direct effect of number of filled grains per panicle (1.4128/1.8979), test weight(1.1812/1.5927), days to fifty percent flowering (0.2404/0.1669), ear bearing tillers (0.0159/0.1224) and panicle length(0.0710/0.0813). Selection for the traits with positive association and direct effects will be useful for the improvement in yield of rice through breeding programme.