Genetic performance, heritability, and correlation of traits in new plant type of rice lines for highland ecosystem

Rice cultivation is crucial in providing global food needs, particularly in highland areas with distinct environmental conditions. Adapting promising rice lines suitable for highland ecosystems is essential to ensure sustainable rice production in such regions. This study assesses the agronomic performance, heritability, and correlation of traits in new promising rice lines adapted to highland ecosystems. The latest promising rice lines are designed with the unique environmental conditions of highland regions in mind. This research was conducted in Buntu Barana’ Village, Tikala Sub-district, with an elevation of 858.4 m above sea level. The study was carried out in rain-fed semi-irrigated paddy fields. The research was conducted from May 2023 to January 2024. The research methodology involves testing various agronomic traits for yield production components of the new type of promising rice lines at different highland locations. The research procedures included the selection of viable seed strains, seeding, fertilization, balanced irrigation, control of plant pest organisms, harvesting, and post-harvesting. Evaluated agronomic traits encompass plant height, days to maturity, number of productive tillers, length of panicles, number of filled grains per panicle, and grain yield. Additionally, heritability analysis is performed to assess the extent to which observed trait variations are attributed to genetic factors. Research findings reveal significant variations in agronomic traits among the new type of promising rice lines. The highest grain yield is achieved in genotype UKIT102-2-056, which is 8.3 tons per hectare of paddy rice. These lines exhibit objective adaptation to the highland ecosystem, with some lines demonstrating superior performance in specific parameters, especially early maturity, namely 97 days after planting. Heritability analysis indicates that certain traits have high heritability levels, suggesting a significant role of genetic factors in controlling these traits. Furthermore, this study unveils correlation patterns among the observed agronomic traits. Significant positive and negative correlations among several traits indicate complex interrelationships among these agronomic characteristics. These findings offer further insights into the relationships between these traits and can be utilized to develop more adaptive rice lines in highland environments.