Screening of rice (Oryza Sativa) genotypes for salt tolerances in saline Vertislos of Tungabhadra command

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes for salt tolerances during wet season (kharif) 2000,2001 and 2002, under natural saline soils having Eee in the range of>8 dS/m and pH around 8. Eleven rice genotypes, viz 'Pokkali', 'CSR 13', 'CSR 22', 'CSR 27', 'lET 15420', 'lET 15681', 'lET 16153', 'lET 16154" 'lET 16638', 'lET 16640', and 'lET 16650' were evaluated along with 'IR 30864' (salinity check), 'BPT 5204' and 'IR 64' (yield checks). Among the varieties screened, 'CSR 22' recorded consistently higher yields indicating its ability to withstand salinity. It recorded 29% more yield when compared with 'IR 30864' (saline check variety) and 76% more yield than the 'BPT 5204', a popularly cultivated variety in the command. Performance of other genotypes, viz 'lET 16638', 'lET 16153', 'lET 16640', 'lET 16154', and 'lET 16650' was also found promising. The genotypes, viz 'lET 16650', 'lET 16640', 'lET 15420', 'CSR 13', 'IR30864', 'CSR22' and 'PokkaIi' recorded lower Na:K ratio in shoot, indicating selective partitioning and accumulation of K than Na for nornlal cell functions under saline soil thus making them possible to perfonn better under adverse situations.