ABSTRACT
Genotypic and phenotypic correlations and path coefficients for 16 QTL traits involving seven diverse rice ecotypes with different maturity group in a 7 × 7 half-diallel set of 21 crosses in each F1 and F2 were estimated. The grain yield/plant was found to be associated positively and significantly at both phenotypic and genotypic levels with biological yield, number of total and productive tillers/plant, 100-grain weight and panicle length in F1 while in F2 with biological yield, number of total spikelets/panicle and number of total and productive tillers/plant. The perusal of data inferred that certain traits were intercorrelated among themselves, viz., biological yield with number of total and productive tillers/plant; L/B ratio with 100-grain weight and kernel length. Moderate to high estimates of narrow sense heritability and genetic advance were observed for plant height, days to 50% flowering and 100-grain weight which indicated actions of additive genes in their inheritance. The results were discussed in the sense that strategically planned selection for reduced crop growth period, need-based elongating canopy architecture and bold grained single plant ideotype would be the positive motivations and that application of this novel strategy would lead to increased biological yield vis-à-vis enhanced and sustainable grain yield productivity of both irrigated and low input target rice ecosystems.