Explicating the influence of Silicon in relation to growth dynamics, biotic stress and tolerance to water deficit conditions in different genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa L.)
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Date
2019-09
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Rice is one of the leading agricultural crops serving as the staple food crop for almost 50% of the existing people in the world. As the population continues to expand and climate change occurs, the escalation in food requirement is inevitable. Environmental stress (biotic and abiotic) owing to climate change alters the growth and development of plants leading to an enormous loss in crop yield and productivity. A field experiment was laid out in split-plot design replicated thrice with four treatments viz., T1: Control, T2: Si fertilized T3: Si + Drought stress and T4: Drought stress. The study was conducted during the kharif season of 2017 and 2018 to evaluate the influence of Si on growth dynamics, biotic stress and tolerance to water deficit conditions in different genotypes of rice. Various morphological, yield attributes and biochemical parameters in five genotypes namely PA-6129, US-312, KRH-4, IR-64 and Sahabhagidhan were observed. Nutrient content estimation as well as biotic stress incidence analysis was also conducted. Silicon was found to have an encouraging influence on the growth and development and yield under wellwatered as well as water-deficit conditions. Growth parameters such as plant height, tiller number, leaf number, LAI and biomass accumulation as well as yield and yield attributes such as panicle number, spikelet number, grain number, test weight and harvest index were found to enhance. Chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, protein and amylose content together with SOD activity revealed a positive response on application of silicon. Proline and MDA content was found to decline. Upsurge in nutrient content uptake was also witnessed. KRH-4 and US-312 was recognized to deliver a commendable response to silicon fertilization under well-watered as well as water deficit conditions.
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