Vol. 9, Special Issue 12, Part H (2025)

The present study evaluated 129 promising rice genotypes at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, during Kharif 2024 and Rabi 2024-2025, to investigate interrelationships and direct and indirect effects of yield component traits on grain yield. Eleven traits related to yield were assessed to understand their influence on rice grain production. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes for all traits studied. Grain yield was positively and significantly associated with panicle length (0.14), number of productive tillers (0.14), test weight (0.25), and per day productivity (0.99). Traits such as days to 50% flowering, panicle length, spikelet fertility, test weight, and per day productivity exerted positive effects on grain yield per plant. These results suggest that yield improvement in hybrid rice breeding can be achieved through selection targeting productive tillers, test weight, and panicle length.