Genetic variability of panicle architecture traits in different rice accessions under the Eastern Terai conditions of Nepal

The panicle architecture is a critical determinant of the reproductive success rice plants and has direct impact on grain production. In this study, we evaluated genetic variation parameters in fifteen genotypes compared them with five commonly grown cultivars study area to assess their potential for crop improvement initiatives. selection 15 was based specific criteria, including diversity origin, type, adaptation local conditions. Significant morphological variations were observed among accessions parameters, length, weight, test number, grains/panicle, chaffs/panicle, flag leaf area. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that first two axes explained 59.8% total variance, indicating substantial variability features across genotypes. Panicle identified as significant variables contributing phenotypic variation. Multiple correlation indicated weight strongly positively correlated flagleaf area, but negatively angle. Genetic advance percentage mean (GAM) ranged from 7.226% number 70.728% chaffs/panicle. Traits such grain/panicle, exhibited high GAM heritability, highlighting significance during improvement. Certain accessions, namely SVIN123, IR106523-25-34-3-2-13-1-2, Radha-13, IR15L17315, demonstrated superior larger making attractive candidates future breeding projects.