Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis in Upland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) for Grain Yield and Quality Characters

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate Twenty Five Upland Rice genotypes. There are various aspects to move up rice yield, such as creating of irrigation work, development of rice ecosystems, soil conditions, traditional practices, and breeding of high yielding genotypes. Among them, it seems that the most effective and economic way available is to develop different rice ecosystems especially Upland Rice Genotypes. High to moderate phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation were observed for number of panicles per hill and number of tillers per hill. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for number of panicles per hill, number of tillers per hill, grain yield per hill, test weight and flag leaf length, indicating that these traits are most probably under the control of additive gene action and hence these traits can be fixed by proper selection.Days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of panicles per hill, flag leaf width, spikelets per panicle, days to maturity, biological yield per hill, harvest index and test weight, exhibited positive significant correlation with grain yield per hill at both genotypic and phenotypic levels, indicating selection based on these traits could be more effective to maximize grain yield. Days to 50% flowering, biological yield per hill and harvest index had positive direct effect on grain yield per hill. Therefore, selection program should be based on these traits for crop improvement with high yielding genotypes in Upland rice.