Genetic Study of Photoperiod Sensitivity and Plant Height in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Flowering represents the transition from vegetative to reproductive phase and is controlled by complex and highly regulated genetic architecture. In many plants, the time of flowering is strongly influenced by photoperiod, which synchronizes the floral transition with the favourable season of the year. Over the last decade, genetic approaches have aided the discovery of many signalling components involved in the photoperiod sensitivity. The study of plant height is essential to develop desired plant stature which can survive with changing climate. The inheritance pattern of photoperiod sensitivity and plant height was studied in different crosses of rice. Photoperiod response followed a qualitative inheritance with photosensitivity being dominant over photo insensitivity andit showed digenic complementary gene action in different crosses. Segregation pattern of plant height showed complementary as well as duplicate dominant epistasis. The results obtained from this study might be helpful for rice breeders trying to develop new varieties with photo sensitive and lodging resistance.