Yield attributing physio-morphological trait response in rice (Oryza sativa) genotypes grown under aerobic situation in eastern Indo-Gangetic plain

A field experiment was carried out during wet season 2010-2012 with an objective to evaluate the effect of aerobic situation on yield attributes and physio-morphological trait performance of advanced breeding lines and popular high yielding rice (Oryza saliva L.) varieties of eastern India including aerobic check MAS 946. Significant yield decline was observed almost in all the rice genotypes grown under aerobic situation as compared to normal transplanted condition. The range of yield decline was 1.43 to 3.27 tonnes/ha under aerobic situation compared to normal irrigated condition. Rice genotypes capable of maintaining high early vegetative vigour, plant biomass, RWC, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate leads to produce higher grain yield under aerobic situation. The existence of genetic variation (PCV and GCV) revealed significant differences among genotypes for different morpho-physiological traits. Higher values of heritability and genetic advance were observed for plant height and DFF whereas low heritability for grain yield, plant biomass and test weight. Promising rice genotypes for aerobic situation, IR77298-14-1-2-130-2, 1R84899-B-182-3-1-1-2, IR84887-B-157-38-1-1-3,1R84887-B-156-17-1-1, IR 84899-B-179-1-1-1-2 and IR 83927-B-B-278-5-1-1-1showed high yield advantage (40.29%) over susceptible genotypes due to better performance of physio-morphological traits. Hence these promising genotypes may be adopted in rainfed lowland ecosystem as well as under limited water availability areas. Moreover, these promising genotypes can also be utilised as donor parents in future aerobic rice breeding programme.