Study on gene action for sodic tolerance traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Gene action studies were carried out on sodic tolerance physiological traits, yield and yield attributes from line x tester analysis by using 14 diverse parental lines and 54 hybrids. Analysis of variance revealed the importance of non-additive gene action in controlling all the characters studied. The significance of mean squares due to lines and testers indicated prevalence of additive type of gene action for most of the characters studied. BPT 5204, TRY (R) 2 and IR 36 among the lines and Pokkali and CT 9993 among the testers identified as best combiners for sodic talorance, yield and yield contributing characters. These parents could be exploited for development of salt tolerant high yielding varieties combined with more heterosis. Hybrids viz., BPT5204xPokkali, IR36xCSR10, IR64xCSR10, BPT5204xN13, BPT5204xCT9993, W. PonnixMoroberekan, TRY(R)2xCSR10, CO43xPokkali and CO47x Pokkali were identified as the best hybrids for yield, yield attributing characters and sodic tolerant physiological characters. These hybrids could be utilized in heterosis breeding to exploit hybrid vigour.