Genetic Evaluation of a Diverse Rice Panel for Direct Seeded Adapted Traits Using Kompetitive Allele Specific Primer Assay

Abstract

Direct seeded rice (DSR) cultivation is an attractive non-conventional technology for growing rice. It saves labor, water, energy, and takes 5 to 7 days for early crop maturity. The yield advantage in DSR can be obtained by implementing various cultural practices including proper sowing time and seed rate, selection of suitable cultivars with appropriate management of weeds and water. The present study involves the agronomic and molecular screening of advanced breeding lines under direct seeded as well as transplanted conditions, so as to identify DSR adapted genotypes. Significant variations among genotypes have been observed for most of the traits measured in the present study. The yield under DSR was comparable to TPR but the grain quality was not comparable, and poor milling and head rice recovery were observed. Molecular characterization using 106 Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR assays (KASP) was performed. The best performing genotypes with different allele combinations under DSR were PAU 6456-8-2-1-1-1, PAU 5187-RIL1649-F8, PAU 6456-8-1-1-1-3, PAU 6456-8-2-1-1-2, NVSR 2107, and PAU 6778-12-1-4-1-1. The selected genotypes performed better in terms of traits associated with seedling establishment, root architecture, yield, and yield-related traits. The identified promising breeding lines may serve as novel donors to be further used in a marker-assisted selection program which target improving the grain yield and adaptability under DSR.