Pyramiding QTLs controlling tolerance against drought, salinity, and submergence in rice through marker assisted breeding

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227421
• Publication Date: 2020-01-07T23:07:07Z
• Authors: Valarmathi Muthu; Ragavendran Abbai; Jagadeeshselvam N...; Hifzur Rahman; Sasikala Ramasamy; Rohit Kambale; Thiyagarajan Thul...; Bharathi Ayyenar; Raveendran Muthur...
• Keywords: Drought Tolerance; Marker-Assisted Selection; Inbred strain; Tiller (botany)

Increases in rice productivity are significantly hampered because of the increase occurrence abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, and submergence. Developing a variety with inherent tolerance against these major stresses will help achieve sustained production under unfavorable conditions. The present study was conducted to develop stress-tolerant genotypes genetic background popular Improved White Ponni (IWP) by introgressing effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring drought (qDTY1.1, qDTY2.1), salinity (Saltol), submergence (Sub1) through marker assisted backcross breeding approach. Genotyping early generation backcrossed inbred lines (BILs) resulted identification three progenies, 3-11-9-2, 3-11-11-1, 3-11-11-2, possessing all four target QTLs maximum recovery recurrent parent genome (88.46%). BILs exhibited consistent agronomic grain quality characters compared those IWP enhanced performance dehydration, stress IWP. during germination increased shoot length, root vigor index All reduced symptoms injury (NaCl) dehydration (PEG) than did At 12 days stress, survival greater recovery, whereas failed completely. were found exhibit on par cooking characteristics their parents. Results this clearly demonstrated effects reducing damage caused lead development triple tolerant version