Amina Ashfaq1, Rahat Jamil2, Abdul Waheed3 and Ayesha Sabeela Anwar4
1Department of Botany, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan 2Department of Biotechnology, Forman Christian College, University Lahore 3Department of Botany, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan 4Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
*Corresponding author: ashfaqamina56@gmail.com
This study aims to elucidate correlations among diverse traits within 150 rice genotypes, with the ultimate goal of advancing high-yield rice varieties. Key attributes such as tillering, grain count per panicle, plant height, panicle length, grain size, and grain weight collectively influence plant architecture-a pivotal determinant of rice grain production. This article fundamentally delves into the profound impact of both morphological and agronomic variables on rice grain output. Among the observed correlations, panicle length displays substantial positive correlation with plant height (0.5341**). Conversely, tiller count per plant exhibits no significant correlation with plant height (0.1333ns) or panicle length (0.0108ns). Meanwhile, grain count per panicle demonstrates a notable positive correlation with both plant height (0.3708**) and panicle length (0.4913**). In terms of hundred grain weight, it showcases negligible negative correlation with plant height (-0.002ns), whereas it yields a significant correlation with grain count per panicle (0.1591*) and highly significant correlations with grain length (0.2688**) and grain width (0.4423**). Furthermore, grain length displays a significant positive correlation with panicle length (0.3412**). In contrast, grain width exhibits no significant correlation with plant height (correlation coefficient: 0.0513ns), tiller count per plant (0.1566ns), grain count per panicle (0.0619ns), or grain length (0.1272ns). Additionally, grain width displays a negligible negative correlation with panicle length (correlation coefficient: -0.0419ns). Consequently, manipulating these agronomic traits offers a promising avenue for augmenting or reducing grain yield. The outcomes of this research furnish valuable guidance for plant breeders, enabling them to harness the full potential of the best-performing cultivars for subsequent research endeavors.