Anusha T. Gangwar L.K. Chand P. Kumar M. Singh A. Vaishali and Singh B.
Abstract
The study assessed 58 rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes for genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance under irrigated and drought-stress conditions during the Kharif seasons of 2023-24 and 2024-25 using a Randomized Block Design with two replications. Data on 15 quantitative traits revealed significant differences among genotypes in both the environments. Under non-stress conditions, traits such as spikelets per panicle, filled and unfilled grains per panicle, days to 50% flowering, and grain yield per plant showed high GCV and PCV. Under drought stress, similar traits exhibited high variability, while grain yield showed moderate variation. Most traits under non-stress exhibited high heritability with high genetic advance, except plant height, unfilled grains, spikelet fertility, and relative water content. Under drought, days to 50% flowering, unfilled grains per panicle, and flag leaf area exhibited high heritability and genetic advance, suggesting additive gene action and good potential for phenotypic selection under stress.