Studies on performance of early elite rice cultures under direct seeded conditions for yield and quality traits

Genetic variability was estimated among 23 direct seeded rice genotypes for 22 characters viz., recorded highest mean performance for number of spikelets/panicle, panicle length (cm), number of tillers/hill , plant height (cm), grain yield /hill (g), grain yield/plot (kg), grain yield (q/ha), biological yield/hill (g), test weight (g) and kernel breadth of rice (mm). The high value of GCV and PCV were recorded for grain yield per plot. High heritability with high genetic advance was reported in test weight and number of spikelets per panicle, respectively. Thus, these characters may serve as effective selection parameters during breeding programme for crop improvement.