Determination Of Genetic Diversity Based On Agronomic Traits In Advanced Lines And Cultivars Of Rice

In order to study genetic diversity and determine the selection indices, sixty four rice promising lines and cultivars were evaluated using a simple latice design at Rice Research Institute of Iran, Rasht in 1999. Some morphological and agronomic characters were measured during plant growth and after maturity on ten plants selected randomly in each plot. Analysis of variance showed significant differences for most of the traits. Number of grains per panicle and flag leaf angle had the greatest genetic variations. Number of days to 50% flowering and days to maturity had the highest general heritability. Results of simple phenotypic and genotypic correlation indicated that length of panicle and number of tillers per plant had the largest effects on the grain yield. Cluster analysis based on all attributes, grouped the genotypes in four clusters. Therefore, it is suggested that hybridization between group 1 and 2 will provide more diversity and stronger heterosis