~ 1376 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2017; 6(5): 1376-1378 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2017; 6(5): 1376-1378 Received: 13-07-2017 Accepted: 15-08-2017 AR Khaire Regional Agriculture Research Station, Karjat, Raigad. Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra, India RL Kunkerkar Regional Agriculture Research Station, Karjat, Raigad. Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra, India BS Thorat Regional Agriculture Research Station, Karjat, Raigad. Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra, India MP Gavai Regional Agriculture Research Station, Karjat, Raigad. Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra, India SG Bhave Regional Agriculture Research Station, Karjat, Raigad. Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra, India Correspondence AR Khaire Regional Agriculture Research Station, Karjat, Raigad. Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra, India Studies on genetic variability for yield and yield contributing traits in local rice (Oryza sativa L.) AR Khaire, RL Kunkerkar, BS Thorat, MP Gavai and SG Bhave Abstract The experiment was conducted with twenty four rice genotypes collected from local area of Maharashtra along with two check varieties in Kharif 2015-16 in randomize block design. Wide range of variability was present in the local lines of rice under study. The range of GCV and PCV was 5.76% to 24.79% and 2.62% to 24.34% respectively. The estimates of phenotypic, genotypic and environmental variances revealed that phenotypic variances were higher in magnitude over the respective genotypic variances for all the characters under study. PCV and GCV were high for number of filled spikelets per panicle and number of spikelets per panicle. The broad sense heritability ranged from 20.37% to 97.78%. High estimates of broad sense heritability was observed for number of filled spikelet per panicle, number of spikelet per panicle, days to maturity and plant height. The genetic advance and genetic advance as per cent of mean was ranged from 1.00% to 71.22% and 2.18% to 68.60% respectively. Heritability along with genetic advance is more useful for selection than the heritability alone. Keywords: genetic variability, yield contributing, Oryza sativa, phenotypic variances Introduction Rice is staple food of more than 60% of Indian population. It accounts for about 43% of total food grain production and 46% of total cereal production in the country. Rice occupies pivotal place in Indian Agriculture. In order to meet the domestic demand of the increasing population the present day production of 107.40 million tons (Annonymous, 2015-16) [1] of milled rice has to be increased to 125 million tons by the year 2030. Since the yield of high yielding varieties (HYVs) of rice is plateauing, it is rather difficult to achieve this target with the present day inbred varieties. Therefore, to sustain the self-sufficiency in rice, additional production of 1.17 million tons is needed every year. There are a large number of indigenous rice varieties in India, which are still grown by the tribal people and small farmers of the remote areas where the modern agricultural practices, sufficient foods as well as healthcare systems are a dream. Nature has provided them some alternative ways. They have different indigenous rice varieties with its nutritional and medicinal values. The indigenous rice varieties cultivated by traditional farmers may contain a considerable genetic diversity that can serve as a source of germplasm for genetic improvements of cultivated varieties of rice. In rice varietal improvement programmes, indigenous rice varieties have proved to be useful donors for sources of resistance or tolerance to many stress environments and for imparting resistance to important pests and diseases. In general, diverse landraces traditionally cultivated by farmers around the centers of diversity and domestication of crops are as key natural resources important for maintaining the future food securi in light of the changing climate. After considering this attributes, Regional Agriculture Research Station, Karjat has collected several local germplasm. These germplasm have more genetic diversity, high degree of tolerance for biotic and abiotic stresses and wide adaptability with meaningful nutrional quality. Materials and methods The experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Karjat under Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharastra, India during Kharif, 2015. The experimental material for the present study consisted of twenty six genotypes of rice (Oriza sativa L.) which was collected from different sources, it was expected that these genotypes were phenotypically different in respect of growth habit, plant height. The present investigation was carried out by adopting Randomized Block Design with three replications. Twenty seven days old seedlings were transplanted with 20 cm distance between rows and 15 cm distance between plants within rows. All the recommended package of practices was followed along with necessary prophylactic plant protection measure raise a