Correlation, path analysis and stress indices studies of Saltol introgressed lines of rice for salinity tolerance

The correlation, path analysis and stress indices for yield and its component traits were studied in Saltol introgressed backcross inbred lines (BILs) developed in the background of ADT 37 and CR 1009 Sub 1 under normal and saline conditions. The score of seedling stage salinity tolerance indicated that the line BIL 1102 was tolerant to salinity. Correlation studies indicated positive association of number of total grains per panicle and number of filled grains per panicle with grain yield in both saline and normal conditions. The direct positive effects of traits like number of productive tillers and panicle length would be effective for selection on grain yield improvement under both environments. The characters viz., days to fifty percent flowering, number of filled grains per panicle and thousand grain weightalso had direct effects on grain yield under salinity condition. The lines viz., BIL 1102, BIL 752 and BIL 1094 were selected as saline tolerant lines based on stress susceptibility index (SSI) and stress tolerance index (STI).