Identification of Swarna x O. nivara (RPBio4918) advanced backcross lines performing well under acidic soil conditions

Aim: To evaluate a set of ABLs (Advanced Backcross Lines) to identify lines perfoming well under acidic soil and iron toxicity hydroponics conditions. Methodology: A total of 194 ABLs were randomly used in lowland field randomly following augmented experimental design. Selected lines were screened in hydroponics condition using Yoshida’s solution for iron toxicity tolerance. Results: Under field conditions, several deficiencies and toxicities often co-exist, and it becomes difficult to partition the effect of different stresses on the genotypes. Therefore, screening genotypes in artificial hydroponics conditions allows us to dissect the response of a genotype to one particular nutrient toxicity or deficiency. Based on different traits superior, average and inferior performing lines were selected from field condition. Hydroponic experiment was conducted using Yoshida’s solution for iron toxicity screening, different superior and inferior lines were identified based on the parameters like root growth, root and shoot biomass. Four lines K 408, K 455, S 304, S 203 were identified that performed well in both field and Fe toxic hydroponic conditions.Interpretation: The information generated would help to identify suitable parents for breeding program under acidic soils, and the phenotypic data on ABLs may serve as a base for future mapping of loci responsible for yield under acidic soils and iron toxic conditions.Key words: Acidic soil, Advanced backcross lines, Hydroponic condition, Iron toxicity, Seedling stage screening