QTLs associated with yield attributing traits under drought stress in upland rice cultivar of Assam

A total of 94 polymorphic SSR markers were used for genotyping of 90 F4 plants. Among these, 56 markers fitted for the expected Mendelian ratio of segregation whereas, 38 significantly deviated from it (P<0.01). Only 63 SSR markers could be assigned to 12 linkage groups (LGs) covering a total of 1652.3 cM of the rice genome at an average marker density of 26.22 cM. The number of markers on each linkage group ranged from 3 (LG 10) to 7 (LG2 and LG 8). A total of 26 QTLs were identified for yield and physiological traits with the phenotypic variation ranging from 0.14% to 26.17%. Among these, 18 QTLs were identified under drought stress and remaining 8 QTLs were detected under irrigated conditions. The QTLs for days to 50% flowering remained consistent in the marker intervals of RM519-RM3331 on chromosome 12 under both hydrological conditions. Four QTLs were localized on the long arm of chromosome 1 between the marker intervals of RM3825-RM243. Thus, with further fine mapping of this region may identify some novel genes associated with drought tolerance which can be used in marker-assisted breeding (MAB) for the development of drought tolerant rice variety.