Screening Direct Seeding-Related Traits by Using an Improved Mesocotyl Elongation Assay and Association between Seedling and Maturity Traits in Rice

Direct seeding (DS) of rice gained much attention due to labor scarcity and unavailability water. However, reduced emergence poor seedling establishment are the main problems DS which causes significant yield losses. Herein, DS-associated traits three major groups, i.e., Indica (Ind), Japonica (Jap), aus-type (Aus), were evaluated by using an improved mesocotyl elongation assay. The associations among different at maturity stage also studied. Significant variation was observed cultivars groups. Aus group showed higher mean values for coleoptile (C, 3.85 cm), (MC, 4.17 shoot length (SL, 13.64 panicle (PL, 23.44 tillers number (T, 15.95), culm (CL, 105.29 plant height (PH, 128.73 while groups grain (GL, 8.69 mm), length/width ratio (GL/WR, 3.07), width (GW, 3.31 with 1000 weight (TGWt, 25.53 g), respectively. Pairwise correlation analysis that MC, C, SL positively correlated themselves PL, CL, PH. Moreover, based on principal component (PCA), SL, PH identified as discriminative factors in cultivars. This study describes development desired variety long MC semidwarf suggests can be used donor parents favorable breeding programs.