Agro-morphological Characterisation of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Germplasm Accessions Using DUS Descriptors

The present investigation was undertaken to characterise 200 rice germplasm accessions, along with seven checks, for visually assessed DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) traits. The 207 entries were evaluated during Kharif 2020 in an augmented design with four blocks at the Research cum Instructional Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (Chhattisgarh), at a spacing of 20 cm × 15 cm with the recommended package of practices under normal irrigated conditions (no drought stress was imposed). Observations were recorded on twenty-four DUS descriptors. Of these, one descriptor (shape of ligule) was monomorphic, nine were dimorphic and fourteen were polymorphic. Based on the Shannon–Weaver diversity index, hull colour, flag leaf attitude, panicle exsertion, grain breadth and basal leaf sheath colour were the most variable descriptors. Unique accessions such as IC390636 (aromatic) and IC516693 (red lemma) were identified, which may be useful as donors and in candidate variety development. The study provides a morphological baseline for future drought-stress evaluation; drought tolerance itself was not assessed