THE EFFECT OF SALINITY ON SEEDLING GROWTH OF DIFFERENT RICE GENOTYPES

Abstract

The effect of salinity-stress on seedling morphology of different rice genotypes along with one standard check salt tolerant rice cultivar Pokkali were assessed in two factors [30 rice genotypes in combination with 5 levels of salinity (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 dS m")] Completely Randomized Design with three replications in pot culture. The results of this study indicated that the seedling height, root dry weight (RDW), shoot dry weight (SDW) and consequently the total dry mailer (TDM) significantly decreased with increasing salinity level irrespective of genotypes. The genotypes PYSB 19, Pokkali, PYSB9, PNR519, PNR381 produced higher relative-seedling height, RDW, SDW and TDM under different salinity levels. On the other hand, genotypes RD21, DM25 and NSI5 showed lower performance in relative-seedling height, RDW, SOW and TDM. Based on the effect of different salinity levels on seedling morphology, the genotypes PYSB9, PYSB 19, PNR519, PNR381 including the check Pokkali were designated as salt tolerant and RD21, DM25, NS 15 as salt susceptible.