Correlation of yield with early seedling performance and physio-biochemical traits in Basmati rice mutants subjected to heat stress

The present study aims at deciphering the response of Basmati rice mutants to high temperature stress. The work aims to find an early screening method by correlating seedling and physiological response to yields. After rigorous screening in controlled environment (growth chamber) and field conditions over a period of four years 16 mutants’ lines were selected: HTT-18, HTT-29, HTT-31, HTT-39, HTT-51, HTT-53, HTT-74, HTT-81, HTT-92, HTT-97, HTT-98, HTT-104, HTT-114, HTT-119, HTT-132 and HTT-138. These have been tested against standards: Super Basmati and IR-64. Field trials were conducted at three locations while early seedling-stage traits and their biochemical analyses were studied in growth chamber experiments. Data of seedling traits were used to establish correlations with paddy yield under hot field conditions. The temperatures were high at two sites: Multan and Bahawalpur ranging 24-46 °C and 25-45 °C respectively), and relatively lower at NIAB field station (26-45 °C. The paddy yield was significantly correlated with early seedling-stage traits such as shoot length (0.79**), shoot fresh and dry weight (0.48* and 0.49*), and cell membrane thermo-stability (0.60**). Additionally, significant higher activities of antioxidants (SOD and APX) and lower stress indicators (MDA, esterase and TOS) were observed in the heat tolerant mutants. These mutants were classified for their heat tolerance by principle component analysis (PCA) using yield-correlated early seedling-stage and other physio-biochemical parameters. As a result, the heat tolerance classification of mutants based on PCA coincided with the yield of mutants grown under hot field conditions. The present study suggests that these seedling parameters may be used as surrogates for field performance and used in the selection of thermo-tolerant Basmati rice