Assessing morphological traits of high yielding aus rice varieties in Bangladesh

Abstract

Crop improvement relies on the variability observed in morphological characteristics among different plant materials. In pursuit of this goal, an experiment was carried out at the BINA sub-station farm in Barishal, Bangladesh from April to August 2020, utilising five distinct aus rice varieties: Iratom-24, Binadhan-14, Binadhan-19, BRRI dhan48, and BRRI dhan82. The objective was to investigate how morphological traits influenced yield performance. The results of the study unveiled significant correlations between specific morphological characteristics and grain yield. Notably, plants exhibiting larger flag leaves in terms of both length and width, coupled with a smaller leaf angle, tended to produce higher grain yields. Additionally, an increased number of filled grains per panicle, longer grain length, and a higher number of tillers per hill were also associated with greater grain yield. In terms of yield performance among the tested varieties, BRRI dhan48 emerged as the top performer, boasting the highest grain yield. It was closely followed by Binadhan-19 and BRRI dhan82, both of which exhibited commendable yield potential. These findings underscore the pivotal role of morphological traits in determining crop productivity and underscore the importance of selecting and breeding varieties that exhibit favorable characteristics for enhanced agricultural output. To refine our understanding of these relationships, even more effective crop improvement strategies are needed to meet the growing global demand for food.