The root system morphology is one of the most important characteristics in the adaptation of plants to water stress. So, the objective of this study was to analyse important morphologic aspects, regarding the drought tolerance of the root system of upland rice cultivars cultivated under water stress conditions in a greenhouse, in order to discriminate lines to areas with uneven rainfall distribution. Thus, 37 cultivars with broad genetic divergence were sown in PVC tubes (25 cm diameter and 80 cm height) filled with soil, under two hydric regimes: without and with (reposition of about 50% of evapotranspired water) water stress, applied after the panicle emergence. Root density, evaluated at harvest from surface to 80 cm depth, at 20 cm intervals, differed among the cultivars. Muruim Branco, Cano Roxo, Amarelão/Douradão, and Arroz Agulhinha cultivars showed high root density under water deficit as well as under adequate water availability. The root density of upland rice cultivars, measured in soil columns, was positively related to the drought tolerance of these cultivars, under field conditions. This methodology can be considered a valuable technique for screening upland rice cultivars for drought tolerance.
Rice cultivars; screening for drought tolerance; leaf temperature; root density