Evaluation of Genotypes against Water Stress and Salinity in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abiotic stresses pose significant challenges to growth, yield and productivity thus threatening food security. Hence, it is essential to develop climate resilient rice varieties that mitigate the impact of abiotic stress. A study on physiological characterization for water and salinity stress was conducted in twenty-eight rice genotypes during kharif 2023 at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Maruteru. Among all the treatments, root length, shoot length, root and shoot dry weight and chlorophyll content was maximum under control followed by 1% mannitol, 2% mannitol and salinity stress. Visual scoring for water stress at seedling stage revealed that under mild water stress (1% M) more than 90% of plants survived in genotypes viz., AC-35678, FL 478, Ravana, Rahaspunjar, AUS 63, AUS 73, Vandana, NICRA 16, NICRA 17, CR-3439-4-E-17-2-1-B-1-S-1, CR-4215-2-5-2-M-4-SUB-2-5-1. Under severe water stress (2% M) more than 70% of the seedlings survived in NICRA 16, CR-4215-2-5-2-M-4-SUB-2-5-1, CRAC-4423-3, IET -18727, IC-516 149, IET-18716, AC-35678, FL 478, AC 85, Rahaspunjar, AUS 100, NICRA 17, CR-3439-4-E-17-2-1-B-1-S-1. Under salinity stress the score 3 was recorded in FL 478, and 5 in Rahaspunjar, IET -18727, NICRA 16, Ravana, NICRA 17. For both combined stresses, FL 478, Rahaspunjar, NICRA 16 and NICRA 17 were identified as tolerant and can be identified as donors for development of rice varieties having climate resilience.