Effect of drought stress on morpho-physiological traits in some traditional rice cultivars of Kokrajhar district, Assam, India

Abstract

Water status is one of the critical factors affecting rice production. Rice cultivars tolerant to drought stress at the vegetative stage were selected. Six traditional rice cultivars of Kokrajhar district, Assam, namely, Sali, Bora, Ahu, Malsira, and two variety of Jaha i.e.; white and black were included in this study. The germination index, plant growth, root architecture, leaf rolling, leaf death and leaf relative water content in plants subjected to drought stress for 0, 7, 14 and 21 days were recorded. Based upon the levels of water stress tolerance, three groups of rice cultivars were recognized, as follows: highly drought-tolerant, moderately drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive cultivars. The Joha (white) rice cultivar was considered to be a highly drought-tolerant cultivar. The moderately drought-tolerant cultivars included Joha (black), Ahu, Sali and Bora. The Malsira cultivar was considered sensitive to drought.