Assessment of genetic variability for yield and its component characters in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Eighty one rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes were evaluated during kharif 2010 forthirteen quantitative traits to examine the nature and magnitude of variability,heritability (broad sense) and genetic advance. Analysis of variance revealed that thedifferences among eighty one genotypes were significant for all the characters except flagleaf width. Among the all traits number of spikelets per panicle exhibited high estimatesof genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV)followed by harvest index, grain yield per hill and number of panicles per hill. Broadsense heritability was highest for biological yield per hill, which suggested that this traitwould respond to selection owing their high genetic variability and transmissibility.Maximum genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for number of spikelets perpanicle with high value of heritability.