Evaluation of Yield Indices and Identification of Yield Responsive Genes (Gn1a and Gs3) of Selected Rice Genotypes

Abstract

This research aimed at evaluation of yield Indices and identification of yield responsive Genes (Gn1a and Gs3) of selected rice Genotypes. A total of ten rice genotypes including four improved rice (high yielding) genotypes and six local rice (landraces) genotypes obtained from Maslaha seeds limited Gusau, Zamfara State were collected. The Data was collected for plant height, tiller number, number of panicles, panicle length, panicle weight and days to 50% flowering were recorded, grain length and seed dimension was measured. The genomic DNA of the Rice accession was extracted using a standard DNA extraction Kit (Plant/Seed Miniprep kit). The PCR reaction was set using a total of 40 ul reaction mixture containing 4ul 10x dream taq green buffer, 1.0 ul of dNTPs, 2.0 ul of each primer, 0.4ul of dream taq total nucleic acid polymerase, 2ul total nucleic acid template and 28.6 ul of molecular grade water. The Data collected for grain yield attribute and seed germination was subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using statistical analysis system (SAS Version 9.4). The results were expressed as mean + Standard Deviation (SD) of three replicates and the differences between the means were separated using Duncan’s new multiple range test (DNMRT). The result showed that significant differences exist amongst entries for plant height at maturity. Panicle length observed in this study was significantly different in all the entries with FARO67 (25.92cm) recorded the highest compared to genotype Bvfort (20.37cm) which had the lowest. PCR products revealed the presence of Gn1a and Gs3 genes in the ten rice cultivars screened. Eight rice cultivars (FARO44, FARO59, FARO67, Bvfort, Fanjim, Kamrun, Maikwalli and Jamila) have Gn1a and Gs3 gene and shows during PCR Analysis while the remaining two cultivars (FARO60 and Danruwa) have the gene but do not show during the PCR analysis. This investigation therefore, recommends that accessions like Danruwa, kamrun and FARO60 which showed desirable yield, quantitative and qualitative traits in this study should be used for further rice improvement programmes.