Abstract

Increasing genetic diversity is a key factor in rice breeding programs. Weedy rice represents an important genetic resource due to its high genetic variability and potential for transferring yield-related traits. This study aimed to evaluate grain traits and yield components of F₂ populations derived from crosses between cultivated rice and weedy rice. Grain-related traits, including number of grains per panicle, number of filled grains per panicle, seed set percentage, grain weight per panicle, and 100-grain weight, were recorded. The results showed substantial variation in grain traits and yield components among the F₂ populations, indicating clear genetic segregation. Some cross combinations exhibited superior performance in terms of grain number and grain weight, while the overall seed set percentage remained relatively high. These findings suggest that weedy rice can serve as a valuable genetic resource for enhancing genetic diversity and improving yield-related traits in rice breeding programs. The information obtained from this study not only contributes to a better understanding of trait variation in early-generation populations but also provides a foundation for the development of new rice cultivars in future breeding efforts.