The effect of SUB1 QTL on physiological traits in the background of Indian mega rice varieties
摘要
Climate variability projections indicate a shift in weather patterns and increased frequency of flooding which poses a significant threat to nation’s rice production and productivity. Improving rice production in submergence-prone areas is critical for improving the livelihoods of individuals who depend on rice as their primary food source. The marker-assisted back cross method was employed to introgress SUB1 QTL into popular rice varieties, allowing breeders to develop submergence-tolerant varieties that demonstrated significant improvements in survival and recovery after flooding. This study examined the impact of the SUB1 QTL on physiological traits in SUB1 introgression lines under submergence conditions. Dunnett’s test revealed statistically superior performance in all SUB1 introgression lines than their recurrent parents for survival percentage, elongation percentage, total chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm and starch content. Submergence is often regarded as one of the critical abiotic stresses impacting rice productivity. Therefore, incorporating the SUB1 QTL into high-yielding mega rice varieties has proven beneficial in mitigating the effects of flooding in low-lying areas.