Optimizing rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield and lodging resistance using MGIDI and conventional selection indices

To deal with the changing climate there is a necessity to develop climate resilient varieties without compromising yield. Hence concentrating on all the traits is essential to select genotypes. On utilization of the selection indices SI 1, SI 2, SI 3, and MGIDI we have observed that the modern selection indices such as MGIDI are superior over the Smith Index as MGIDI reported a gain of 2% in yield in F₅ which simultaneously improved lodging resistance with a gain of 39.6% for section modulus and 34.7% for bending stress. In BC₁F₄, a selection gain of 5.80% for yield with simultaneous improvement in culm diameter at 5.89% gain was observed. Hence MGIDI was found to be superior over conventional indices, which improved both lodging resistance and yield.