Trait Dynamics and Genetic Variability Studies in Rice under Contrasting Water Regime

Background: Rice is a major staple crop globally but is highly vulnerable to abiotic stresses, especially drought, which severely affects yield and food security. Drought disrupts plant growth and development, though adaptive traits vary among genotypes, making evaluation important for identifying resilient varieties. Aim: The study aimed at accessing the effect of drought on yield and yield attributing traits as compared to the irrigated environment followed by identification of genotypes conferring high and stable agronomic performance under contrasting field moisture environment Study Design: Augmented design Methodology: Total 103 genotypes including three checks were grown in bot irrigated and drought field which was induced at reproductive stage. The data was taken for key agronomic traits along with grain yield. Comparative statistical including ANOVA, correlation, Genetic variability studies and Principal component analysis to unveil how the relative values for different agronomic traits varied in two contrasting environments. Results: The ANOVA revealed significant variation in the panel the variation for which increased under drought stress. Harvest index, spikelet fertility and flag leaf width were identified as important traits contributing toward grain yield under drought. Superior genotypes in terms of better grain yield under drought environment were tall in stature with increased flag leaf width, more number of effective tillers, improved spikelet fertility and better harvest index Conclusion: The traits identified as important contributor for grain yield under drought can be given preference while selected stable drought resilient genotypes.