SELECTION METHODS AND RESPONSE TO SELECTION IN RICE

Abstract

The F2 plants of the cross UPR 83-34/Sita were planted at four different plant spacing viz. 15 x 10, 20 x 10, 20 x 15 and 20 x 20 cm and subjected to biased and random selection followed by the estimation of selection differential for number of tillers per plant, panicle length (cm), number of grains per panicle, lOOO-grain weight (g) and grain yield per plant (g). The resulting F3 progenies were also evaluated for the same traits to find out the realized selection response. Biased selection gave higher means than the random selection in F2, but differences got dissipated in the next generation. The estimates of selection differential were, in general, positive and high for biased selections than for corresponding random selections. On the other hand, the realized selection responses were mostly negative for biased selections and positive for random selections.