Screening for salt tolerant rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes at early seedling stage

The environmental stresses such as salinity (soil or water) are serious obstacles for field crops especially in the arid and semi-arid tracts of the world. In order to investigate impact of salinity stress on rice seed germination, early seedling growth and ion accumulations, were conducted at Plant Physiology Division of Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA), Tandojam, during 201213. Seeds of six rice genotypes were collected from Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA) Tandojam. These seeds were grown in on plastic bowls at different salinity levels along with control in culture solution. The pH of culture solution was maintained at 5.0. Treatments i.e., distilled water (control), 40mM, 60mM, 80mM and 100mM NaCl. As it is manifest from present data that genotypes, treatments and their interaction were highly significant for germination (%), root/shoot length (cm) , root/shoot fresh and dry weight (mg) and solute accumulation in plants (inorganic solute Na + and K + ). Among the genotypes tested IR 66946-3 R-178-1-1 and IR 84675-58-4-1-B-B are the tolerant genotypes had the potential to perform better under saline conditions at early seedling stage, whereas Sarshar was moderate tolerant under saline conditions. Moreover the genotypes i.e. IR 84675-7-3-2-B-B and IR 84675-25-73-B-B are the moderate sensitive under salinity, subsequently, the genotype HHZ5-SAL10DT2-DT1 showed sensitive one under saline environment. Further it is concluded that the rice genotypes adjust their osmotic potential by accumulating solutes (K + over Na + ), and their better performance might be related to the selective uptake of K + over Na + .