Analyzing rice (Oryza sativa L.) panicle structure of 122 RILs using P-TRAP software for spikelet related traits

Abstract

Panicle architecture is shown to have a direct impact on rice grain yield, making it an important characteristic for rice varietal improvement. In this study, we focus on the Panicle Trait Phenotyping Tool (P-TRAP), freely accessible, platform-independent software for analyzing rice panicle architecture, as one of the ways for generating comprehensive and reproducible panicle structure data and identifying superior breeding lines. In this analysis, the rice panicle structures of 122 RILs along with their parents were analyzed using P-TRAP software. P-TRAP assesses nine spikelet characteristics and its impact on grain yield. All traits had positive and significant associations and have a direct influence on grain yield. The findings indicate that most characteristics' coefficients of variation had lower values, with the exception of the characteristics spikelet number, spikelet area and grain yield. In comparison to other traits, the standard error for the traits spikelet number and grain yield had a larger value. To better understand their genetic basis, these quantitative traits can be exploited in genome-wide association analyses. Hence, analyzing these traits is crucial. The P-TRAP tool is preferred because it reduces human effort and provides data in a shorter time span when compared to the traditional method.