Jabran, KhawarUllah, EhsanAkbar, NadeemYasin, MuhammadZaman, UmarNasim, WajidHussain, Mubshar2020-05-012020-05-0120170365-03401476-3567https://doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2017.1285014https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12684/6113Jabran, Khawar/0000-0001-8512-3330;WOS: 000403930600012Conventionally flooded rice (CFR) requires enormous water and labor inputs. Water scarcity aspires for cultivation of water-saving rice. Growth response and physiology of basmati rice genotypes under the water-saving production systems has not been reported yet. Studies were conducted for 2 years to compare the growth and physiology of three rice cultivars (Super Basmati, Basmati-2000 and Shaheen Basmati), under high (CFR), medium (alternate wetting and drying [AWD]) and low water input (aerobic rice [AR]) systems. Leaf area index, crop growth rate, leaf area duration and dry matter accumulation were higher for AR followed by AWD and CFR, respectively. Shaheen Basmati had a lower growth and relative water contents than Super Basmati and Basmati-2000, probably due to its shorter stature and shorter life cycle. Photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance of rice cultivars in the different production were affected only at reproductive stage. Basmati-2000 grown as AR had the highest photosynthetic rate followed by the same cultivar under AWD. The results of this study provide us an idea that basmati cultivars can attain a high growth and development with low water input. This would be helpful to grow rice successfully under water-short rice-growing environments.en10.1080/03650340.2017.1285014info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessCultivarsgrowthcultivation systemsphotosynthetic ratestomatal conductanceArticle631014651476WOS:000403930600012Q1Q1