The Variability of Qualitative Traits in Promising Rice Lines

Rice is one of the world's oldest important crops. Qualitative traits can be useful for the identification of promising rice lines. In this study, seventeen advance rice lines were evaluated for qualitative traits. This assessment was carried out to analyse the variability in genotypes, based on 49 important qualitative traits of rice. Data on morphological parameters was collected from each line at suitable phase of growth to check variation. Findings were recorded according to descriptors for rice. Dendrogram was constructed which divided all the genotypes into seventeen major clusters, each subdivided into smaller sub-clusters. The pattern of cluster based on qualitative traits revealed the wide genetic variation. A high level of genetic variability based on qualitative traits was observed in this study. The genetic improvement of the rice needs the availability of genetic variability in promising lines. Significant phenotypic information and these variability has potential to develop quality rice for future breeding programs. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.