In vitro Screening and Induction of Salt Tolerance in Rice

Six selected cultivars of rice namely BPT-5204, MTU-7029, Narendra Usar Dhan-3, Rajendra Bhagwati, CSR-30 and Pusa Basmati-1 were screened for salinity tolerance on the basis of seed germination, seedling and callus growth under different salt stress (0-2.5%) created by a salt mixture of NaCl, CaCl2, Na2SO4 in 7:2:1 ratio. Cultivars CSR-30 and Narendra Usar Dhan-3 were found to be the most salt tolerant, cvs. MTU-7029 and BPT-5204 to be moderately tolerant and cvs. Rajendra Bhagwati and Pusa Basmati-1 were found to be salt sensitive respectively. The formation of callus and their continued growth at higher levels of salt stress indicated the induction and formation of salt tolerant cells and calluses. The cultivars of rice, their normal calluses and salt tolerant calluses were further screened by 14 salt tolerance linked SSR markers for salt tolerance and for detection of induced salt tolerant callus. On the basis of SSR marker, cultivars CSR-30 and Narendra Usar Dhan-3 can be considered as salt tolerant while cv. Pusa Basmati-1 can be considered as salt sensitive. The other three cvs. MTU-7029, BPT-5204 and Rajendra Bhagwati can be considered as moderately salt tolerant.