Unraveling the Tolerance of Rice Varieties to Single and Dual Salinity and Waterlogging Stresses: Impacts on Agronomic Traits and Yield Performance

Dual salinity and waterlogging alter metabolisms activity in rice, leading to reduced growth and yield. The use of tolerant varieties offers a promising strategy to enhance plant resistance, improving agronomic traits and yield performance. The main objective of this study is to reveal and evaluate rice tolerance to single and dual salinity and waterlogging stress and to assess their effects on agronomic traits and yield performance. A split-plot design was used with stress conditions as the main factor, consisting of control (no salinity or waterlogging), salinity stress, waterlogging stress, and dual salinity and waterlogging stress. Seven rice varieties were tested as subplots, including Inpari 30 Ciherang Sub 1, Inpari 34, Inpara 8, Inpari 79 Unsoed Agritan, Maros, Mawar, and IR 64. All stress conditions significantly reduced leaf area. Salinity and dual salinity-waterlogging stresses induced Na+ accumulation in the leaves and reduced K+ concentrations, whereas waterlogging and dual salinity-waterlogging stresses accelerated flowering age. Under dual salinity and waterlogging, rice varieties such as Inpari 30 Ciherang Sub 1, Inpari 34, Inpara 8, and IR 64 exhibited higher proline content than other varieties. All 3 stress treatments resulted in a reduced percentage of filled grain and lower grain yield in Inpari 30 Ciherang Sub 1, Inpari 34, and IR 64, whereas Inpari 79 Unsoed Agritan showed more stable performance across stress conditions, despite producing the lowest grain yield among the varieties tested. Based on the YSI and PCA analysis, Inpari 79 Unsoed Agritan was identified as the most stable variety under stress conditions, although its yield remained low. In contrast, Inpara 8, Maros, Mawar, and IR 64 recorded higher yields than the other varieties. HIGHLIGHTS Evaluation of rice varieties responses to single and dual salinity and waterlogging stress Dual stress conditions exacerbate negative impacts compared to single salinity or waterlogging Inpari 79 Unsoed Agritan showed yield stability under stress conditions, but relatively low grain yield Inpara 8, Mawar, Maros, and IR 64 exhibited higher yields, but less stability across stress conditions GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT