Assessment of Traditional and Modern Rice Varieties for Salt Tolerance at Early Growth Stages

Abstract

The germination and early growth stages of eight rice varieties, including popular traditional varieties from Tamil Nadu, were studied at 0 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM, 200 mM, and 250 mM of NaCl concentrations. Data were analyzed statistically for germination percentage, plumule length, root length, shoot length, and total seedling length at 7 DAS (days after sown). Lower magnitude values for the varieties of final germination percentage (FGP) and germination energy (GE) % led to reductions in the shoot and root length in all varieties. The magnitude of the reduction increased with increasing stability stress. Rice varieties TRY 1 (84%), ADT 45 (71%), and Thuyamalli (71%) showed a more significant germination percentage at 250 mM salt concentration. However, in 200 mM salt concentration, Mappilai samba had recorded higher seedling length (3.3 cm) followed by Aathur kitchali samba (2.5 cm), ADT 45 (2.5cm), TRY 1 (2.2 cm), and other varieties were had lower total seedling length. The result revealed that Mappilai samba, Aathur kitchali samba, ADT 45, and TRY 1 might be utilized to research salinity's effects on growth processes and physiological effects at advanced growth stages.