REGULAR ARTICLE
Development and evaluation of advanced backcross families of rice for agronomically important traits
Kalluvettankuzhi K. Sabu, Mohammed Z. Abdullah, Li Sze Lim, Ratnam Wickneswari
Communications in Biometry and Crop Science (2006) 1 (2), 111-123.
ABSTRACT
Wild relatives of crop species may contain trait-enhancing genes. Our studies showed that grain yield in cultivated rice can be increased significantly using the genes found in common wild rice. Advanced backcross progenies (Oryza rufipogon IRGC105491 x O. sativa cv. MR219) exhibited higher values for most of the yield and yield-related traits analyzed in comparison to the cultivated parent, MR219. About 10% of the BC2F2 families exhibited 33.5% higher grain yield per plant in comparison to MR219. Even though there was an increase in empty grains per panicle, number of tillers per plant also increased considerably (41.5%). This resulted in higher grain yield per plant, which ranged from 52.4 to 77.5g for the selected families in contrast to 42.4g for MR219. Two families, viz., S163 and S165, were identified through GGE biplot analysis as most promising genotypes for cultivar development. The backcross families offer an efficient source of genetic diversity for future breeding programmes.
Key Words: Oryza rufipogon; Oryza sativa; wild rice; grain yield; advanced backcross; trait enhancing genes.
