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NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF VARIATION AMONG BASMATI RICE MUTANTS

MUHAMMAD RASHID, AKBAR ALI CHEEMA AND MUHAMMAD ASHRAF

Abstract: In order to identify the major characters which account for variation among Basmati rice mutants, 11 mutants developed from Basmati-370 and 2 from Basmati-Pak along with parents and three standard checks were studied using Single Linkage Cluster Analysis (SLCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Seven characters were studied. The first three PCs with eigen-values > 1 contributed 78.7% of the variability among the genotypes. Four characters were positive to PC₃ than PC₂ and PC₁. Productive tillers/plant and panicle fertility contributed maximum in PC₃. Thus this principal component is a weighted average of the characters. Results of SLCA agreed with that of PCA ordination on axis II and I. Three groups of mutants were revealed. The discrimination between groups and description of differences between groups were more strongly marked from SLCA than in the PCA. The promising genotypes from particular groups or clusters may be chosen for hybridization programs. Clusters with superior agronomic types identified, may be exploited for genetic potential to transfer the desirable genes to improve yield potential of the rice crop.

Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), P. O. Box 128, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

E-mail: mrashid_niab@yahoo.com; gamtala@yahoo.com