Heritability, Stability and Path Coefficient Analysis for Grain Yield and Yield Attributing Traits in Rice Varieties under Three Irrigation Regimes in Burkina Faso

Rice is currently grown in Burkina Faso in the context of high climatic variability. However, the expression of genetic potential of a species depends on the environment. The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters of morphoagronomic traits and evaluate the genetic potential of rice varieties in different environments. Thus, twenty rice varieties were assessed over two consecutive years in a split-plot design with three replications under three water regimes: sprinkler irrigation (E1), drip irrigation (E1) and submersion irrigation (E3). The results showed that variety FKR19 recorded the lowest genotypic superiority index (0.01) and variety FKR42 the highest (0.66). All the traits assessed had higher genotypic variance components than the environmental variance components. Indeed, the average panicle weight, number of grains per panicle and number of full grains per panicle expressed high expected genetic gains relative to the mean (> 40%) associated with high broad-sense heritability values (> 0.85) in environments 1 and 2. In addition, panicle leaf width length had the highest positive direct effect (+ 5.08) on grain yield, whereas grain width had the highest negative direct effect (-1.77) on grain yield. However, this study was based on a few pheno-agromorphological characteristics in a single agro-climatic zone, which is still insufficient. These results could be used in rice improvement programs in Burkina Faso. © 2024 Friends Science Publishers