Grain Fe and Zn content, heterosis, combining ability and its association with grain yield in irrigated and aerobic rice.

Genetic improvement of rice for grain micronutrients, viz., iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content is one of the important breeding objectives, in addition to yield improvement under the irrigated and aerobic ecosystems. In view of developing genetic resources for aerobic conditions, line (L) × tester (T) analysis was conducted with four restorers, four CMS lines and 16 hybrids.