Screening rice cultivars for salinity tolerance

Abstract

One hundred and sixty two cultivars/lines of lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) were evaluated under greenhouse conditions for salinity tolerance. Fourteen to eighteen days old rice seedlings were transplanted in a submerged soil treated with solution of NaCl in small trays. Salinity injure ratings were done on the basis of percent dead leaves after four weeks. Cultivars/lines were grouped into tolerant moderately tolerant, moderately susceptible and susceptible. Among the tested cultivars, 11% were found to be tolerant, 11% moderately tolerant, 17% moderately susceptible and 61% susceptible. Visible salinity toxicity symptoms and possible reasons of growth reduction due to salinity were discussed.