Biochemical Characterization of a RIL Population of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Under Direct-Seeded Aerobic and Transplanted Conditions

Direct-seeding of rice involves establishing crop from seeds sown in the field rather than by transplanting seedlings from the nursery. Water stress is one of the main environmental stresses responsible for reducing crop productivity as it affects growth through various biochemical and metabolic processes of plant. In rice, the effect of drought varies with the variety, degree and duration of stress and its coincidence with different growth stages. In the present study, recombinant inbred lines obtained from a cross between PR 120 × UPLRi 7 were used to study biochemical traits from leaves and harvested seeds under two sowing conditions i.e. direct-seeded aerobic condition and transplanted conditions. In general, the contents of total soluble sugar and starch in the leaves were higher under direct-seeded aerobic conditions at both vegetative and reproductive stages. While proline content at vegetative stage, was higher in transplanted crop than that of direct-seeded aerobic conditions. However, at reproductive stage, proline content was higher in aerobic crop which may be because of water stress. Storage protein in seeds was higher in direct-seeded aerobic conditions. But there was non-significant difference in total free amino acid in both the aerobic and transplanted conditions. However, there was a significant difference for all the biochemical traits among RILs under both sowing conditions. © 2015, The National Academy of Sciences, India.