Assessment of Genetic Divergence in Relation to Hybrid Breeding in Rice

Abstract

Genetic diversity is considered as an important criterion
while choosing the parents for realizing heterosis and
recombination in breeding programmes. Within a limit,
inclusion of more diverse parents in hybridization is
believed to increase the chances of obtaining stronger
heterosis in hybrids. In the present communication, an
attempt has been made to ascertain the magnitude of
diversity among some maintainer and elite restorer lines
in order to provide a rational basis for the selection
of suitable parental lines to develop heterotic
combinations.