Genetic diversity of drought tolerant rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes under drought stress condition

Abstract

A field screening of thirty three rice genotypes under drought stress and irrigated non-stress condition was conducted during kharif 12 with the objective to study the effect of drought stress on yield and yield attributes performance of advanced breeding lines and current high yielding varieties. The effects of water deficit on various physiological traits associated with drought tolerance were also studied. Result revealed that significant yield decline was observed almost in all rice genotypes grown under water stress condition compared to irrigated situation. Significant variation was also observed among genotypes for leaf rolling, leaf drying, stress recovery and relative water content under drought stress conditions. The tolerant lines maintained high leaf water status, membrane stability and plant biomass under reproductive stage drought condition. The present study also indicates the agro-morphological and physiological traits that have direct and indirect effect on yield performance of rice genotypes under drought stress condition.