G×E Interaction and Stability Analysis for Salinity and Sodicity Tolerance in Rice at Reproductive Stage.

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most import cereal crop in the South Asian countries and unfortunately, it is sensitive to salinity. Breeding for salt tolerant varieties is the cost-effective way of addressing this problem. The development and dissemination of these high yielding and salinity tolerant varieties to different agro-ecological zones of the country involves conducting multi-location trials. In the current study, one such trial was conducted using 44 genotypes which were tested across seven salt stress environments during Kharif, 2014. The data recorded for days to 50% flowering and grain yield were analyzed through both Genotype and Genotype × Environment interaction (GGE) and Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interactions(AMMI) analyses. GGE biplots accounted for 92.5% and 87.5% of the interaction variance, whereas AMMI biplots could explain 95.7% and 88.5% for days to 50% flowering and grain yield, respectively. The location Aligarh (ENV6) was found the most discriminating for both the characters. Furthermore, it was found the most favorable environment. For days to 50% flowering, two mega environments were identified while for grain yield one mega-environment through GGE biplot and three through AMMI biplot could be demarcated. Both AMMI and GGE have led to similar conclusions with minor differences. However, the GGE biplot was found comparatively more advantageous over AMMI. The genotypes RP 5898-18-5-2-1-1, Bulk 18, NDRK 50043, CSR 11-121, CSR 23, RP 5898-38-7-2-1-1 and CSR 55 were found stable with above average yields across saline and sodic soils. These rice lines could be used for commercial cultivation for improve the productivity in salt affected soils.