Assessment of major determinants of phenotypic variation for a transplanting seedling

Abstract

Selections of desirable traits and exploration and utilization of genetic diversity have always been used as an essential tool in plant breeding. The present study was an attempt to investigate general and specific determinants of phenotypic variation among a data set of seedling characters and genotypes efficiency for a transplanting seedling. For this purpose 48 advance genotypes with three control cultivars Basmati-385, JP5 and Kangnai29 were grown in a replicated field trail and evaluated for 16 traits that were reported earlier as contributing traits of seedling vigor. ANOVA showed high CV% for SRFW, SRDW, WC, SSFW, SSDW, SFW, SDW, while lowest was found for SH followed by SLL. PCA extracted two components with 66.75% of variability. The PC1 comprised of SFW, SDW, SSFW, SSDW, SRFW, SRDW, WC as positive meaningful loading while one DG as negative one with overall 38.69% of variability. The PC2 carried 5 significant loadings i.e. SVI, SH, SLL, SLW and SLA with 28.068% of variation. The meaningful traits of PC1 and PC2 were the sub-derived variables of SH and SFW respectively. These findings pave a criterion for selection which will enable one to choose a best genotype at seedling that withstands lodging and having the ability to carry large and heavy panicle at adult stage. Apart from these, the less variability for SH and high variation in SFW indicated the capability of elite lines. The elite lines 97-m, 111-m, 161-s, Abbasi2, 105-m, 86-L, 29-s, 136-L, 158-2-L, 130-s, 14-L, 10-s, 127-m, 26L, 179-s, 19-L, 79-L, 184-s, 07-m, 17-L, 109-L, 186-m, 12-L, 52-L, M2, 69-m and 96-m were more vigorous and withstand disease attack due to its high seedling biomass and short stature that one could effectively use in further improvement of rice.