Selection of Sodic Stress‐Tolerant Rice Genotypes Through Stress Indices and GGE Biplot Analysis

ABSTRACT The rising problem of salt stress is a major abiotic threat to the production and productivity of rice. Therefore, increasing salt tolerance in rice will enhance the potential of saline‐alkali soils and ensure food security. A total of 215 RILs derived from the cross between TRY1 and Pusa Basmati 1 (PB1) were tested over 4 years, from 2015 to 2018, in controlled microplots with moderate (E1—pH~9.5), high (E2—pH~9.9), and non‐stress (pH~7.5) conditions at CSSRI, Karnal. The data on grain yield, stress tolerance index (STI), and stress susceptibility index (SSI) were used to identify stable sodic‐tolerant genotypes. GGE biplot analysis for SSI and grain yield identified one genotype, G93; STI and SSI identified nine genotypes, G129, G156, G116, G43, G58, G145, G130, G159, and G102; SSI, STI, and grain yield identified three genotypes, G79, G127, and G157, as ideal, stable salt‐tolerant lines over PB1. The “which‐won‐where” graph indicated that G79, G129, and G93 were the overall winning genotypes. Agro‐morphologically desirable genotypes, G156 (CSR TPB‐156), G127 (CSR TPB‐127), G159 (CSR TPB 159), and one basmati line, G31 (CSR‐B‐31), were nominated for the All India Co‐Ordinated Rice Improvement Project (AICRIP) trials, and they showed significant yield advantage over the salt‐tolerant checks. The nominated lines can be released as varieties, and winning genotypes G79, G129, and G93 could serve as potential donors for the development of salt‐tolerant varieties for commercial cultivation.