GENETIC VARIABILITY AND CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS OF MAJOR TRAITS IN EARLY MATURING RAINFED RICE GENOTYPES AT PARWANIPUR, BARA, NEPAL

Genetic variability is the fundamental requirement to develop superior cultivar variety in any breeding program. The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic variability and find out the correlation among the different quantitative traits of early rain fed rice genotypes at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Parwanipur, Bara during 2019. Twenty- two genotypes including Hardinath-3 and Anmol Mansuli as check varieties were evaluated in the randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Various Quantitative traits were evaluated and character association was estimated. Analysis of variance showed highly significant difference at 1% level of significance among the genotypes for all the traits studied except for panicle length which indicates the existence of genetic variability and potential for selection and further improvement. Phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation which indicates the influence of environment for all the traits studied. The presence of high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of mean (GAM) for most of the traits which indicates presence of additive gene action. Positive and highly significant correlations were found in number of filled grains per panicle (r=0.259**)and dry matter (r=0.276**) which indicates that these traits have positive effects on grain yield and it helps in selection and improvement of rice genotypes. However, negative and highly significant correlation exhibits between days to flowering (r=-0.288**), days to maturity (r=-0.318**), and number of tillers per m2 (r=-0.290**). Thus, overall results indicate the presence of variability and remarkable genetic advance could be considered as the most appropriate traits for improvement and selection of trait for high yielding rice genotypes.