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16(3): 219-222, 2021
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STUDIES ON CORRELA TION AND C

CORRELATION AUSE
CA EFFECT ANAL
USE-EFFECT YSIS IN
ANALYSIS
RILS OF MTU 1010 X BR 2655 FOR YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL
TRAITS IN RICE

RAMYA RATHOD1*, L.V.SUBBARAO 2, C. N. NEERAJA 3,K. B. ESWARI 1 AND D. SRINIVASA CHARY 4

1
Department of Genetics and Plant breeding, college of agriculture, PJTSAU,
2
Department of Plant breeding, Indian institute of rice research,
3
Department of Biotechnology,Indian institute of rice research,
4
Department of Statistics and Mathematics,
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
e-mail: ramyarathod.5@gmail.com

KEYWORDS ABSTRACT
Rice The Research was conducted with an aim to study the character association and cause-effect analysis for yield,
Biofortification yield attributing and nutritional traits in 190 F7 RILs derived from MTU-1010 and BR-2655 during Kharif 2016.
Correlation Study revealed that panicle length (0.206*), productive tillers per plant (0.308*), filled grains per panicle
Path Analysis (0.215*) and 1000-grain weight (0.307**) are positively associated with grain yield, indirect selection for these
traits might improve the grain yield. Path analysis demonstrated that 1000-grain weight (0.367), plant height
Received on : (0.129), filled grains per panicle (0.050), days to 50 per cent flowering (0.014) and productive tillers per plant
31.12.2020 (0.016) exerted positive direct effect on grain yield indicating that the selection for these characters was likely to
bring about an overall improvement in grain yield per plant directly. These characters can be used in the selection
Accepted on : programme to isolate superior lines with genetic potentiality for high yield in rice genotypes.
05.08.2021

*Corresponding
author

INTRODUCTION a sustainable way. This is also the only feasible way of reaching
the malnourished population in rural India.
Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a model cereal species occupies the
Correlation between grain yield and other characters is helpful
enviable prime place among the food crops cultivated around
in selection of suitable plant type. When more characters are
the world. The slogan “Rice is life” suits the most for Indian
included in correlation study, the association becomes more
culture, as this crop plays a crucial role in livelihood for
complex. In such situations, selection on the basis of direct
millions of rural households and describes its importance in
and indirect effects is more useful than selection for yield per
food and nutritional security. It is the principle food for more
se. Path co-efficient analysis developed by Wright (1921) helps
than half of the world’s population (Sasaki and Burr, 2000).
in partitioning of the correlation coefficients into direct and
Micronutrient malnutrition has been designated as the most
indirect effects and to assess the relative contribution of each
serious challenge to humanity (Copenhagen Consensus, 2008)
component character to grain yield. With this information the
as two-third of the world’s population is at risk of deficiency in
study was planned to estimate correlation coefficient and path
one or more essential mineral elements (Cakmak, 2002; White
effects among yield, yield components and nutritional traits in
and Broadley, 2009; Stein, 2010).
recombinant inbred lines of rice.
The mineral elements most commonly lacking in human diets
are iron and zinc (White and Broadley, 2009; Stein, 2010) MATERIALS AND METHODS
which ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, among the top ten
risk factors contributing to burden of disease (WHO, 2002). The experimental material consisted of a 190 recombinant
In Asia and Africa, it is estimated that 500-600 million people inbred lines (RILs) mapping population derived from a cross
are at risk for low zinc intake (HarvestPlus, 2010). To overcome of MTU1010 x BR2655. The RIL population was planted along
this, a genetic approach called Biofortification (Bouis, 2002) with parents in randomized block design with 3 replications
has been developed, which aims at biological and genetic each with a pacing of 20 x 15cm. All the recommended
enrichment of food stuffs with vital nutrients (vitamins, minerals agronomic package of practices was adopted besides
and proteins). Ideally, once rice is biofortified with vital providing necessary prophylactic plant protection measures
nutrients, the farmer can grow the variety indefinitely without to raise a good crop. Observations were recorded for yield
any additional input to produce nutrient packed rice grains in and yield attributing traits viz., days to 50% flowering (DFF),

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RAMYA RATHOD et al.,

plant height (PH), panicle length (PL), productive tillers per length, Nandan et al. (2010), Rao et al. (2014) for grain yield
plant (PT), filled grains per panicle (FG), 1000-grain weight per plant and Ajmera et al. (2017) for grain zinc and iron
(TW) and grain yield per plant (GY) and subjected to statistical concentration.
analysis. Statistical analysis for the above characters were done Plant height recorded a significant negative association with
following Singh and Chaudhary (1985) for correlation grain yield per plant (-0.113), grain zinc (-0.188*) and iron
coefficient and Dewey and Lu (1959) for path analysis. concentration (-0.132*), positive non-significant association
Nutritional traits grain iron and zinc concentration in the with panicle length (0.114), productive tillers per plant (0.098)
unpolished rice grains were determined by X – Ray and 1000-grain weight (0.023) and negative non-significant
fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF) (Paltridge et al., 2012). association with filled grains per panicle (-0.024). Similar with
Rao et al. (2014) for number of productive tillers per plant,
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Sala et al. (2015) for panicle length, Dhurai et al. (2014) for
1000-grain weight, Nagesh et al. (2012) for grain zinc and
Association studies iron concentration, Reddy et al. (2013), Patel et al. (2014),
Character association provides information on the nature and Biswash et al. (2015), Thippeswamy et al. (2016) and Priya et
extent of association between pairs of metric traits and helps al. (2017) with grain yield per plant.
in selection for improvement of the character. Genotypic Panicle length showed significant positive association with
correlation coefficients between yield, yield attributing and grain yield (0.206*) indicating that selection for this trait could
nutritional characters were analysed and results are presented improve the grain yield. This trait showed non-significant
in (Table.1). positive association with filled grains per panicle (0.015) and
Days to 50% flowering showed a non-significant positive non-significant negative association with productive tillers per
association with grain yield per plant (0.080), 1000-grain plant (-0.005), 1000-grain weight (-0.039), grain zinc (-0.114)
weight (0.143) and filled grains per panicle (0.069). Negative and iron concentration (-0.148). Similar were reported by Rao
and significant association recorded with plant height et al. (2014) for days to 50 % flowering, Sala et al. (2015) for
(-0.252**) and non-significant negative for panicle length (- plant height, Rahman et al. (2014) for number of filled grains
0.013), productive tillers per plant (0.067), grain zinc (-0.133) per panicle, Nagesh et al. (2012) for grain zinc concentration,
and iron concentration (-0.087). Similar findings were Dhurai et al.. (2014) for 1000- grain weight and number of
recorded by Sarker et al. (2014) for number of filled grains per productive tillers per plant, Thippeswamy et al. (2016)and
panicle, Rao et al. (2014) for 1000-grain weight and panicle Priya et al. (2017) for grain yield per plant.

Table 1: Correlation coefficients for yield contributing and nutritional characters in rice
Characters Days Plant Panicle productive filled 1000- Grain Grain Grain
to 50% height length tillers per grains grain iron zinc yield
flowering plant per panicle weight (g) concen concen per plant
tration tration (g)
(ppm) (ppm)
Days to 50 per cent flowering 1 -0.252** -0.013 -0.067 0.069 0.143 -0.087 -0.133 0.08
Plant height 1 0.114 0.098 -0.024 0.023 -0.132* -0.188* -0.113*
Panicle length 1 -0.005 0.015 -0.039 -0.148 -0.114 0.206*
Number of productive tillers per plant 1 -0.055 -0.046 -0.113 -0.07 0.308**
Number of filled grains per panicle 1 0.02 -0.095 -0.083 0.215*
1000-grain weight (g) 1 -0.056 -0.041 0.307**
Grain iron concentration (ppm) 1 -0.212 -0.393**
Grain zinc concentration (ppm) 1 -0.424**
P -represents phenotypic correlation coefficient; G- represents genotypic correlation coefficient, *Significant at 5 percent level, **Significant at 1 percent level

Table 2: Direct and indirect effects of yield attributing and nutritional traits in rice
Characters Days to Plant No of Panicle No. of 1000- Grain Grain Grain
50% flo height productive length filled grain iron zinc yield
wering (cm) tillers/plant grains weight (ppm) (ppm) per
(cm) per (g) plant(g)
panicle
Days to 50% flowering 0.014 -0.003 -0.001 -0.002 0.001 0.002 -0.002 -0.002 0.08
Plant height (cm) -0.032 0.129 0.011 0.014 -0.003 0.003 -0.014 -0.024 0.215**
No of productive tillers/plant -0.001 0.001 0.016 -0.001 -0.009 -0.007 -0.001 -0.001 0.037
Panicle length (cm) 0.001 -0.006 0.001 -0.005 -0.001 0.002 0.005 0.003 0.03
No. of filled grains per panicle 0.003 -0.001 -0.002 0.008 0.05 0.001 -0.003 -0.004 0.102*
1000-grain weight 0.052 0.008 -0.015 -0.014 0.007 0.367 -0.015 -0.015 0.393**
Grain iron concentration (ppm) 0.035 0.062 0.014 0.009 0.035 0.014 -0.268 -0.297 -0.324**
Grain zinc concentration (ppm) 0.039 0.056 0.021 0.032 0.023 0.012 -0.323 -0.254 -0.424**-
Residual effect = 0.8050, Bold values- direct effects, Normal values-indirect effects,*Significant at 5 percent level, **Significant at 1 percent level

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 STUDIES ON CORRELATION AND CAUSE-EFFECT ANALYSIS IN RILS

Productive tillers per plant exhibited negative non-significant times fruitful.

association with filled grains per panicle (-0.055), 1000-grain When many characters are affecting a given character, splitting
weight (-0.046), grain zinc (-0.070) and iron concentration (- total correlation into direct and indirect effects of cause as
0.113). Grain yield per plant had a significant positive devised by Wright (1921) would provide more meaningful
association (0.308**) with this trait suggesting that direct interpretation to the cause of association between the
selection for higher productive tillers per plant may increase dependent variable like yield and independent variables like
the grain yield per plant. Similar with Rao et al. (2014) for plant yield component characters. This kind of information will be
height and 1000-seed weight, Dhurai et al. (2014) for panicle helpful in formulating the selection criteria.
length and Nagesh et al. (2012) for grain zinc concentration,
Ratna et al. (2015); Ashok et al. (2016); Priya et al. (2017) for If the correlation coefficient between caused factor and the
grain yield per plant. effect is almost equal to its direct effect, then correlation
explains the true relationship and direct selection of this trait
Filled grains per panicle reported a non-significant positive will be effective. The correlation coefficient is positive and the
correlation with 1000-grain weight (0.020) whereas non- direct effects are negative or negligible, the indirect effects
significant negative correlation with grain zinc (-0.083) and seem to be the cause of correlation. In such situations the
iron concentration (-0.095). This character shown significant other factors influencing the trait have to be considered
positive association with grain yield per plant (0.215*). Similar
simultaneously. Correlation coefficients may be negative but
with Nandan et al. (2010), Sarker et al. (2014) for days to 50 %
the direct effect may be positive and high. Under these
flowering, Nandan et al. (2010) for plant height, Rahman et al.
conditions a restricted simultaneous selection model is to be
(2014) for panicle length, Biswash et al. (2015), Thippeswamy
followed i.e., restrictions are to be imposed to nullify the
et al. (2016), Lakshmi et al. (2017) for 1000 seed weight,
undesirable indirect effects in order to make use of the direct
Lakshmi et al. (2017) and Priya et al. (2017)) for grain yield per
effects. Path coefficient analysis shown in Table 2, revealed
plant. Nagesh et al. (2013) for grain zinc and iron
that 1000-grain weight exerted the highest positive direct effect
concentration.1000-grain weight showed highly significant
(0.367) on grain yield followed by plant height (0.129), filled
positive correlation with grain yield per plant (0.307**) and
grains per panicle (0.050), days to 50 per cent flowering (0.014)
non-significant negative correlation with grain zinc (-0.041)
and productive tillers per plant (0.016) indicating that the
and iron concentration (-0.056). This trait acts as a selection
selection for these characters was likely to bring about an
criterion for improvement of grain yield per plant. Reported
overall improvement in grain yield per plant directly. Therefore,
same with Ashok et al.(2016), Lakshmi et al. (2017), Priya et
it is suggested that preference should be given to these
al. (2017) for grain yield per plant and Nagesh et al. (2013) for
characters in the selection programme to isolate superior lines
grain zinc and iron concentrations.
with genetic potentiality for high yield in rice genotypes.
Grain zinc (-0.424**) and iron concentration (-0.393**) Negative direct effect on grain yield was exhibited by panicle
showed a negative significant correlation with grain yield per length, grain zinc and iron concentration.
plant, this indicates that there is difficulty in simultaneous
development of these traits with grain yield. The results were High direct effect of 1000-grain weight (0.367) on grain plant
in accordance with Nagesh et al. (2013) for grain yield per yield was reported by Thippeswamy et al. (2016), Tejaswini et
plant. al. (2016), Kalyan et al. (2017), Lakshmi et al. (2017), Priya et
al. (2017). Plant height (0.129), filled grains per panicle (0.050),
Grain yield per plant had significant positive association with number of productive tiller per plant (0.016) and days to 50
panicle length (0.206*), productive tillers per plant (0.308**), per cent flowering (0.014) also had direct positive effect and
number of filled grain per panicle (0.215*) and 1000-grain positive genotypic correlation with grain yield. Rahman et al.
weight (0.307**). Non-significant positive association (2014), Ashok et al. (2016), Lakshmi et al. (2017) and Priya et
observed with days to 50 per cent flowering (0.080). Plant al. (2017) reported positive direct effect of plant height, number
height (-0.113*), grain iron (-0.424**) and zinc concentration of productive tillers and number of filled grains per panicle.
(-0.393**) showed significant negative association with grain Nikhil et al. (2014), Ratna et al. (2015), Tejaswini et al. (2016)
yield. Results suggests that, while improving grain yield due and Priya et al. (2017) reported positive direct effect of days to
care is given to component traits viz., panicle length, number 50 per cent flowering.
of productive tillers per plant, filled grains per panicle and
1000-grain weight as these traits are positively associated with Negative direct effect of panicle length (-0.005), grain zinc (-
grain yield, indirect selection for these traits might improve the 0.254) and iron concentration (-0.268) on grain yield was
grain yield. observed. The direct effect and correlation coefficient of grain
zinc and iron concentration were negative, so the direct
Path analysis
selection for these traits to improve the yield will not be
The association of different component characters among desirable.Thippeswamy et al. (2016), Lakshmi et al. (2017)
themselves and with yield is quite important for devising an and Priya et al. (2017) also reported negative direct effect of
efficient selection criterion for yield. The total correlation panicle length on grain yield. Nagesh et al. (2013) reported
between yield and its component characters may be some negative direct effect of grain zinc and iron concentration on
times misleading, as it might be an over-estimate or under- grain yield.
estimate because of its association with other characters. If
relationship is due to multiple effects of gene(s) it is difficult to
separate these effects by selecting a particular character. Hence, CONCLUSION
indirect selection by correlated response may not be some Traits such as viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, productive

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RAMYA RATHOD et al.,

tillers per plant, filled grains per panicle and 1000-grain weight Paltridge, N. G., Palmer, L. J., Milham, P. J., Guild, G. E and
are the most contributing factors for the improvement of rice Stangoulis, J. C. R. 2012. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis
grain yield. Hence, those traits have to be taken in to of zinc and iron concentration in rice and pearl millet grain. Plant
Soil.
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of grain yield. Patel, J.R., Saiyad, M.R., Prajapati, K.N., Patel, R.A and Bhavani
R.T. 2014. Genetic variability and character association studies in
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
(3): 531-537.
Authors are thankful to College of Agriculture, PJTSAU and Priya, S.Ch, Suneetha, Y., Babu, R.D and Rao, S.V. 2017. Inter-
ICAR Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad for financial relationship and path analysis for yield and quality characters in rice
support and providing facilities. (Oryza sativa L.). International J. Science, Environment and Technology.
6 (1): 381 – 390.
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