IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF SALINITY TOLERANCE THROUGH SALT STRESS INDICES AND VARIABILITY STUDIES IN RICE (Oryza sativa L.).

Rice is generally shows variable level of sensitivity to salinity during its developmental stages and remarkably sensitive during young seedling stage and early reproductive phase. Quantifying the level of salt tolerance based on salt stress indices is an effective method in identification of tolerant genotypes. In this study, the salt stress indices were used to identify best performing genotypes based on salt susceptibility indices (SSI) and salt response indices (SRI) as relevant parameters. Among the 39 genotypes studied, 29 showed better endurance to salt susceptibility indices, among them Pokkali, IR72132-AC-6-1 and IR70869-B-P-13-2 performed well with least SSI, which refers more tolerance with lesser yield reduction, whereas IR29 was vice-versa to the above. Genotypes IR72593-B-19-2-3-1, IR73104-B-1-1-3-2-1 and IR74802-3R-7-1-2 had a better performance with early flowering and highly responsive to salt stress with lower percent yield reduction. The phenotypic variation is higher than genotypic variation for all traits except for flowering duration and it indicates presence of variability for different traits. High heritability with variability, genetic advance and better salt stress indices indicates involvement of additive gene action and can be manipulated and utilized in further breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]