Making Rice More Planet-Friendly: Selection of Rice Mutant Lines Under Continuous and Intermittent Irrigation

Abstract

Genotype × environment (G×E) interactions complicate the identification of stable, high-performing genotypes in plant breeding, particularly under increasing climate variability and water scarcity. To support the development of water-efficient rice cultivars, we evaluated 28 mutant lines derived from the cultivar BRS Pampeira under two irrigation regimes: continuous flooding and alternate wetting and drying (AWD). Agronomic traits were assessed using mixed models (REML/BLUP) to estimate genotypic values, while principal component analysis (PCA) and the multi-trait genotype–ideotype distance index (MGIDI) were used to support genotype selection. Significant G×E interactions were observed for yield-related traits, demonstrating differential responses to irrigation regimes. The MGIDI index identified superior genotypes according to selection scenarios, with m189 showing recurrence under both individual scenarios, m699 selected under AWD and in the multi-environment analysis, and m301 and BRS Pampeira selected under Control and multi-environment conditions. Under AWD, m269 was selected as a promising genotype due to its proximity to the ideotype and balanced multi-trait performance. These findings highlight substantial genetic variability among mutant lines and provide promising candidates for improving rice productivity and adaptation under water-limited production systems.

Keywords

Induced mutagenesis / Water restriction / Multivariate analysis / Ideotype selection

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