Salinity resistance studies in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Twenty-five rice genotypes were used to study the effect of salinity stress on germination and seedling growth. The treatments included saline solutions of sodium chloride (NaCl) at two levels viz., EC 20 and 24 mmhos/cm alongwith control (distilled water). Observations were recorded for water imbibing capacity of seeds after 24 h of soaking (%), germination of seeds after 7 and 14 days treatment (%), shoot and root length (cm), dry weight of shoot and root (mg) and root-shoot ratio (on dry weight basis) 20 days after treatment. The effect of salinity was evident at both the levels i. e. 20 and 24 EC. Effect of salinity was significant in all recorded characters. Genotypes differed significantly for all the characters. Among the varieties tested, three genotypes, namely, IET-16891, IET-17700 and a local variety Dandi exhibited significantly higher salt tolerance at both the levels of salinity concentrations (20 and 24 EC).