Studies on genetic control of quality traits in rice (oryza sativa L.) using six parameter model of generation mean analysis

Analysis of generation means in P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, B₁ and B₂ generations of the two rice crosses MTU 1075/MTU 3626 and MTU 1121/TN 1 was performed to determine the nature of gene action governing 11 quality traits viz., kernel length, kernel breadth, L/B ratio, hulling percentage, milling percentage, head rice recovery, kernel elongation ratio, volume expansion ratio, alkali spreading value, gel consistency and amylose content. All the traits studied showed non allelic gene interaction indicating presence of epistatic gene action. Nature of gene action varied with the character and both additive and non-additive gene action was involved in expression of the characters having the duplicate type of epistasis. The traits were predominantly governed by dominance and dominance x dominance interaction effects and favors heterosis breeding for improvement.