YIELD AND AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF SALINE-TOLERANT RICE MUTANT LINES

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the yield stability, adaptability, and agronomic traits of 10 saline-tolerant mutant rice lines at six locations with diverse saline conditions in Indonesia. This research was conducted in six saline soil locations, with the electrical conductivity (EC) ranging from 6.2 to 12.7 dSm-1). The field experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with rice genotype as the factor. Each experimental unit was 4 m x 5 m of plots. The genotype treatment consisted of ten lines of salinity-tolerant mutant rice and four control varieties. Inpari 34 and Inpari 35 Salin agritan were the tolerant control varieties. The parent-control varieties were Ciherang (sensitive) and Inpari 13 (moderate). Each treatment was replicated three times. The results showed five mutant lines, namely CH-1, CH-2, CH-3, II-13-14, and II-13-78, were confirmed as being adaptive to saline environments. Two mutant lines (CH-1 and II-13-78) had high average productivity (>7 tons ha-1) and potential yields (>8.5 tons ha-1) that were significantly different from the parents and control saline-tolerant varieties. Supported by good agronomic characteristics, those two mutant lines have the potential to be released as new rice varieties tolerant to salinity.