Evaluation of growth and yield traits in rice genotypes using multivariate analysis

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the first staple crop in terms of production and area of cultivation in Nepal. The amount of genetic variability is important factor in identifying suitable genotypes in rice breeding programs. This study was conducted in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal during rainy seasons of 2018 and 2019. Forty rice genotypes were planted in Alpha Lattice Design with two replications to determine the genetic diversity among them. The rice genotypes were grouped into 7 clusters based on growth and yield traits. The traits sucnamely plant height, panicle length, number of tillers/plant and grain yield were found highly significant (p < 0.01). Rice genotypes NR 10676-B-1-3-3-3 produced the highest yield (5.65 t/ha), followed by NR10410-89-3-2-1-1 (5.54 t/ha). The highest distance between cluster centroids (83.51) was found in the cluster 2 (Bange Masino, Hansa raj, Indrabeli, NR 11178-B-B-6-1, NR 11368-B-B-17, Pokhreli Jethobudho, Pokhreli Masino), and cluster 4 (IR73008-136-2-2-3, IR74052-95-3-2) indicating genetic dissimilarity among the genotypes which can be utilized in a hybrid breeding programme. Genotypes of cluster 2 had the highest grain yield (4.97 t/ha). The results of this study suggest that genotypes grouped in cluster 2 can be grown for higher grain production in mid-hills of Nepal.