Development and characterization of salt tolerant somaclones in rice cultivar pokkali

Primary regenerants (1190) of a tall traditional salt tolerant rice cultivar pokkali were produced through in vitro culture from mature seed derived calli of fourth subculture. Out of 35000 SC2 regenerants, 26 promising lines with superior agronomic traits were chosen initially for evaluation. SC3 and SC4 generations were stringently evaluated under hydroponics with excess salt stress as well as under field conditions across two growing seasons in Bay Islands. A set of 10 promising somaclones was further evaluated at SC5 and SC6 of which BTS 2, BTS 13, BTS 18 and BTS 24 were found promising. In SC7 and SC8 yield trials in research farm, BTS 24 was found to produce a mean yield of 36.3 and 45.9 q ha-1 under saline and normal soil conditions, respectively. Somaclones varied significantly from the parent with respect to yield and yield attributes. Grain quality and biochemical parameters of all elite somaclones were different from the parent. However, somaclones did not deviate much from their parent in respect of disease and insect pest resistance pattern.