Genetic diversity and agro‐morphological characterization of locally adapted rice germplasm for grain quality and yield traits

Despite the widespread adoption of modern rice ( Oryza sativa L.) varieties, locally adapted germplasm is still cultivated in different regions of Bangladesh due to superior grain quality and consumer preference. However, comprehensive evaluation integrating agronomic performance, genetic variability, and grain quality remains limited for Bangladesh rice germplasm. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications to identify potential genetic sources for an ideotype and grain‐quality breeding program. This study evaluated the genetic diversity of 40 rice landraces, where agronomic performance was assessed using 25 qualitative and 13 quantitative traits measured across growth stages, while grain quality traits were evaluated at unmilled, dehusked, and cooked stages. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant ( p < 0.001) differences among genotypes for all traits, indicating substantial genetic variability. Genetic variability analysis showed high genotypic and phenotypic variation with minimal environmental influence, along with high heritability and genetic advance for key yield traits. Correlation analysis identified tiller and grain traits as major yield‐contributing factors, while principal component analysis highlighted genotypes with superiority in both yield and grain quality. The multi‐trait circular stacked bar chart identified the top‐performing genotypes within Cluster G1, with GRSD TAPL‐545, Gandhokustori, and Malshira as leading performers. Dehusked grains exhibited a wide length‐to‐breadth (L/B) ratio (1.5–4.2), which slightly declined after boiling (1.5–4.0), indicating a proportional increase in grain width during cooking. Meanwhile, the grain quality superiority index sequentially ranks all genotypes, with Eli, BD‐70, and Dhancikon as the top performers with consistently high L/B ratios. Overall, these findings highlight valuable genetic resources for developing high‐yielding and premium‐quality rice varieties.