Genetic variability and correlation studies for grain iron concentration and yield related traits in recombinant inbred lines of rice (oryza sativa.l) grown under aerobic condition

The present investigation was conducted to estimate genetic variability parameters and correlations that exist for grain iron concentration and yield attributing characters and also to identify transgressant lines based on grain iron concentration in rice. One hundred and sixty recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of IRRI38 X Jeerigesanna were grown under aerobic condition at University of Agricultural Science, Bangalore in augumented experimental design during wet seasons of 2011 and 2012.Grain iron concentration of RILs ranged from 7 to 24ppm. Nine transgressant lines were identified based on high iron concentration in grains, ranging from 14-24ppm. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for all the traits. Grain iron concentration and grain yield per plant showed high phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation. Number of productive tillers per plant (r=0.55) and number of tillers per plant (r=0.46) exhibited significantly positive correlation with grain yield per plant. Grain iron concentration showed negative correlation (r = -0.004) with grain yield per plant. Path coefficient analysis indicated that number of productive tillers per plant (0.869) and number of tillers per plant (0.744) have positive direct effect on grain yield per plant. Grain iron concentration (-0.012) showed negative direct effect on grain yield. Therefore, breeding for high iron concentration and high yield should be executed separately.