Genetic Diversity Analysis of Elite Doubled Haploid Rice Genotypes for Yield Attributing Traits in White Nile State, Sudan

Abstract

The development of new rice varieties is highly dependent on genetic diversity in desirable agronomic traits. Therefore, this study aimed to identify potential genotypes having the characters of Korean varieties (Tongil-type) and japonica developed through doubled haploid (DH) technology to apply in our breeding materials. 35 elite DH lines derived from another culture of Korean and African rice along with two local checks were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications during the two seasons of 2019 and 2020. All evaluated genotypes exhibited a wide and significant variation in the ten measured traits. The highest heritability related to high genetic advance was recorded for the number of tiller/plant, grain yield t/ha, number of filled grain per panicle, and thousand grain weights (g). Genotypic coefficient of variation and genetic advance were recorded for number of tiller/plant, number of filled grain per panicle, 1000 grain weight and grain yield t/ha in both seasons. Moreover, there was a highly significant and positive correlation of grain yield with number of filled grain per panicle (0.65), number of tiller/plant (0.64) and number of panicle per m2 (0.54). Cluster analysis based on grain yield components trait grouped the 37 rice genotypes into four clusters. Cluster B was the largest and consisted of 13 genotypes. Finally, it could be concluded that, based on number of productive tillers, number of filled grain/panicle, number of panicle per m2, and grain yield, the lines KF170506, KF170509, KF170542, KF170530, KF170543, KF170500 and KF170510 were high potential for further selection for new type of irrigated rice. In addition, hybridization of these 7 high-yielding could be used to achieve higher heterosis among the genotypes. Furthermore, this evaluation could be useful in developing reliable selection indices for improving rice breeding programs.