Correlation Analysis for Physio-Morphological Traits of Drought Resistance in Advanced Backcross Population of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The present investigation was carried out to study the association of physio-morphological traits associated with drought resistance in an advanced backcross population (BC₁F₅) developed from the TKM 9 (Drought susceptible, donor) and Norungan (Drought resistance, recurrent) under both irrigated and waters stress condition (rain out shelter). Eighteen physio-morphological characters were studied and correlation coefficient was estimated for all the investigated and derived traits both under stress and irrigated conditions. The trait plot yield had significant positive correlation with leaf rolling, plant height, number of productive tillers, panicle length, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, 1000 grain weight, harvest indexand DRI under stress condition and with plant height, 1000 grain weight and harvest index under irrigated control condition. Spikelet sterility had significant and negative correlation with grain yield under both environments. The drought indices Drought response index (DRI) was highly significant positive correlated with plot yield and Drought susceptibility index (DSI) were found tobe significant and negatively correlated with plot yield under stress condition. The derived traits like difference in plant height had positive correlation with difference in panicle length, DSI and relative water content (RWC) whereas difference in panicle length had positive correlation with DSI and negatively correlated with DRI and RWC.