Assessment of Variability and Genetic Diversity for Elite Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

The current investigation was undertaken with eighteen elite rice genotypes to study the genetic diversity, variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield attributing traits. The ANOVA revealed the significant variability among the genotypes for the traits studied. 1000 seed weight is having highest phenotypic coeffcient variation and genotypic coeffcient variation (24.882 & 24.835) followed by grain yield per plant (20.315 & 19.523 respectively). Heritability estimates of yield attributing traits ranged from 58.3% (Panicle length) to 99.6% (1000 seed weight). High heritability along with higher genetic advance observed for 1000 seed weight, numbers of productive tillers, plant height and grain yield per plant indicating that selection for these traits would be effective. The diversity analysis revealed that genotypes were grouped into four clusters, cluster I was the largest comprising 14 genotypes and cluster II with two genotypes followed by Cluster III and IV with one variety each indicating a high degree of divergence among the genotypes.