Genetic analysis of backcross derived lines of Oryza rufipogon in the background of Samba Mahsuri a for yield enhancing traits in rice

Wild species of rice Oryza rufipogon is a potential source of genetic variation for yield-enhancing traits. With the objective of genetic enhancement of elite rice cultivar, Samba Mahsuri, a set of 120 lines of BC₂^F1 developed from O. rufipogon and was evaluated for yield-enhancing traits. The study revealed, the presence of significant genetic variability and transgressive segregations for productive tillers and grain yield/plant. Characters such as productive tillers per plant (38.37 and 35.48) and yield per plant (44.76 and 44.04) exhibited high PCV and GCV estimates. All the traits except days to 50% flowering displayed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance. Grain yield per plant exhibited a positive correlation with plant height (0.08), productive tillers per plant (0.05) and panicle length (0.20) these traits should be given due importance while practising selection. The identified transgressive segregants from this pre breeding study serve as valuable genetic resources for improvement of rice for yield and its attributing traits.