Early Test of the Tolerance of Upland Rice to Drought in the Germination Phase

Abstract

Climate change in the form of drought will reduce agricultural production, so it is necessary to develop superior drought-tolerant varieties. The study aimed to determine the drought-tolerant local upland rice cultivars at the germination stage. From September to December 2021, the study was carried out at the Seed Science and Technology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Palu, Center Sulawesi, Indonesia.  A completely random design (CRD) with a two-factor factorial pattern was employed in the study. Twelve cultivars comprised the first factor, while two superior drought-resistant variants served as comparators. The second factor is osmotic stress, namely P0 = control, P1 = -1 bar, P2 = -2 bar, and P3 = -3 bar, so there are 56 treatment combinations repeated four times, so there are 224 experimental units. The observed variables were maximum growth potential, germination rate, radicle length, plumule length, radicle dry weight, plumule dry weight, sprout dry weight, water volume, and germination rate. The results showed that drought stress through PEG – 1 bar did not affect germination. Using PEG down to -3 bar resulted in a significant reduction in germination.  Pulut ko, logi and sina ponding are cultivars that have tolerance to drought stress.