VANLALSANGA AND Y. TUNGINBA SINGH
Abstract
The salt tolerance of six indigenous rice varieties of Mizoram and one susceptible variety during germination and early seedling growth was investigated using different NaCl concentrations, and their genetic relationship was assessed using three salt-linked microsatellite markers â RM223, RM493 and RM3412. Germination percentage, shoot and root length, total dry weight and salt tolerance index (STI) were evaluated. Shoot and root length, dry weight and STI decreased as the concentration of NaCl increased. Different concentrations of NaCl had no effect on the germination of the studied varieties. Idaw showed highest level of tolerance, at highest salt concentration, among the studied varieties. Dendrogram based on salt-linked microsatellite markers distinguished salt tolerant varieties similar to that of physiological study.