Tolerance of rice to nickel in nutrient solution

For screening tolerance of six cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa) to different concentrations of nickel (0, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 μg dm3), growth parameters (root and shoot length, root and shoot dry matter production) and root and shoot tolerance indexes were tested after 7, 10 and 13 d of treatment. In presence of nickel in nutrient solution, root growth of cv. Nilgiri was enhanced, while in cvs. Subhadra, Khandagiri, Rudra, Sankar and Annapurna it decreased. The root tolerance index (RTI) and shoot tolerance index (STI) in cv. Nilgiri were high; cvs. Sankar and Khandagiri, however, showed a low RTI. Based on the standard growth parameters, six cultivars of rice were ranked in respect of their tolerance to nickel: Nilgiri > Annapurna > Subhadra > Khandagiri > Rudra > Sankar. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.