Genetic divergence among some maintainer and restorer lines in relation to hybrid breeding in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

A representative group of 100 elite lines, 67 of which are restorers and 33 maintainers, from 68 crosses made at IRRI and 18 improved varieties from five countries were studied, using Mahalonobis, D(2)-statistic and canonical analysis, to understand the nature and magnitude of divergence and to assess the importance of a set of quantitative characters related to yield in genetic differentiation. The 100 genotypes were grouped into 13 clusters. There were three single variety clusters and the number of lines in the remaining clusters ranged from 2-36. Canonical vector values indicated the importance of yield followed by 1,000-grain weight, days to maturity and plant height in primary as well as in secondary differentiation. Results showed that yield, number of tillers per plant, days to maturity and 1,000-grain weight contributed largely to the divergence. There were no indications of a relationship between geographical diversity and genetic diversity in the present study. Disposition of IRRI developed maintainers and restorers into various clusters indicated the presence of large amounts of diversity within the IRRI elite lines which suggested that these materials could be used in crossing programs to produce heterotic F1 hybrids. Crossing of maintainers and restorers among the highly diverse groups was suggested as it may produce F1S that will give higher magnitudes of heterosis.