Evaluation of Tolerance to Drought Stress in Rice Genotypes (Oryza sativa L.) from Central and West Asian Countries

To identify genotypes tolerant to drought stress in rice germplasm, a factorial pot experiment was carried out in the form of a completely randomized design with three replications and 70 rice genotypes originating from Central and West Asian countries in non-stress and drought-stress conditions at the Rice Research Institute of Iran, Rasht, north of Iran, in 2019. Based on the results of this year (i.e. 2019), 19 genotypes selected and cultivated in the form of randomized complete block design with three replications in two environments (normal and drought stress) in 2020. Based on tolerance and sensitivity indices and the results of cluster analysis, rice genotypes were divided into two groups, and based on the comparison of means and deviations from the total mean, genotypes of the second group (Shirodi and Neda (Iran), Sela-Zodras and Shisham-Bagh-2014 (Afghanistan) and Dijla (Iraq) recognized as stress-tolerant genotypes. Also, six genotypes (Nada and Shiroudi (Iran), D3 (Iraq), Sela-Zodras, Jalal-Abad Indica-2014, and Shisham Bagh-2014 (Afghanistan)) were identified by biplot analysis and the ranking method of seven genotypes (Shirodi, Neda and Gilaneh (Iran) Sela-Zodras, Jalal Abad Indica-2014 and Shisham Bagh-2014 (Afghanistan) and D3 (Iraq) were recognized as drought stress tolerant genotypes. Altogether, based on the methods of cluster analysis, biplot, and ranking, the genotypes of Shiroudi and Neda (Iran), Sela-Zodras, and Shisham Bagh-2014 (Afghanistan) were recognized as drought tolerant genotypes. The mentioned selected genotypes can be used in advancing breeding programs for developing new rice genotypes with higher tolerance to drought stress.