Author(s):
The success of plant breeding activities entirely depends on the existence of genetic variability with respect to desired traits and selection skill of plant breeder. Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the extent of variability, heritability genetic advance and character association among yield and yield related traits in lowland GSR. The experiment was conducted using 20 low land green supper rice genotypes in the Northwestern part of Ethiopia at Pawe agricultural research center for three consecutive years from 2016-2018 main cropping seasons. Randomized complete block design with three replications was used. The results on analysis of variance for yield and yield related characters reveled that highly significant mean square due to genotypes observed for all traits studied, Higher phenotypic co-efficient of variation, compared to genotypic co-efficient of variation were recorded for all the traits studied indicating the variation is not only genetic but also influence of growing environment. The highest PCV was recorded for the trait plant height (32.6) followed by panicle length (23.3). Broad sense heritability analysis showed that days to heading (56.3), plant height (49.8), Days to maturity (42.4%) and panicle length (42.3%) was high. High heritability with high genetic advance in percent of mean was recorded by plant height (49.8 &33.54) followed by Panicle length (42.3 & 36.55) which confirms their additive gene action and direct selection of these trait depending on phenotypic expression would be effective for yield improvement. Positive and highly significant phenotypic correlation was observed between days to heading and days to maturity(r=9385***) plant height was positively correlated with thousand grain weight (0.50436*) and Panicle length (0.48312*). grain yield showed negative correlation between Days to maturity (-.044662*), but weak positive correlation was observed for days to heading(r=0.33472), plant height (r=0.18729) and panicle length(r=0.08771). Therefore, the traits recorded high heritability and higher genetic advance; and the traits showed positive correlation could be considered as suitable trait for selection and improvement to achieve high yielding green super rice varieties under rain fed environment.
