Accumulation of proline as a tool to screen rice genotypes in their ability to withstand osmotic stress

Drought and salinity are major abiotic stress factors that severely affect agricultural systems and food production. Many plant species including most important crops are subjected to growth inhibitions under high NaCl conditions. In the present study, seeds of ten different rice genotypes were allowed to germinate and grow in the absence (control) and presence of different concentrations (50mM, 100mM, 150mM and 200mM) of NaCl. The varieties ASD-16, ADT-36 and ADT-43 show higher percentage of reduction in germination than IR-50, JGL-1728 and MDU-5. After 5days, 10days and 15days of salt treatment, the seedlings were harvested and the shoot length and root length measured. Ten days old seedlings were transferred to 50mM and 100mM of NaCl and accumulation of proline was monitored after 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. The rice varieties IR-50, JGL-1728, MDU-5 and ADT-43 show better tolerance against other varieties.