Variation in seedling growth inhibition due to Maleic Hydrazide treatment of rice(Oryza sativa) and ragi(Eleusine coracana) genotypes and its relationship with yield and adaptability

Multilocation trials on 36 rice(Oryza sativa) genotypes of 3 different maturity groups were conducted at four different locations of Orissa for 3 years and 30 ragi(Eleusine coracana) genotypes of 2 different maturity groups were evaluated in three environmental conditions for 3 years. Grain yield data were subjected to stability analysis following linear regression model to estimate adaptability and stability parameters, i.e. b, and $S^2d$ Stability of performance of genotypes was also estimated by two other stability parameters viz., ecovalence W and AMMI stability value ASV. The rice and ragi genotypes of different duration groups showed wide variation in their mean yield, b, $S^2d$, W and ASV parameters. Seeds of the 36 rice and 30 ragi genotypes were treated with 500 and 100 ppm aqueous solution of maleic hydrazide(MH) for 24 hours, respectively to study MH-sensitivity. Sensitivity of genotypes to MH treatment was estimated in terms of seedling growth inhibition index(SGI). The rice and ragi genotypes showed wide differences in their MH-sensitivity in terms of SGI. Relationship of MH-sensitivity of genotypes with their yielding ability, adaptability and stability of performance was tested by contingency $x^2$ test. Low sensitivity of rice and ragi genotypes to MH in terms of SGI appeared to be good indicators of high yielding ability of genotypes. Also, low and high MH-sensitivity of genotypes would be a good indicator of better adaptability to rich and poor environments, respectively, in ragi but not in rice. Low MH-sensitivity of genotypes could be the good indicator of stability of yield performance in rice but not in ragi.