| dc.description.abstract | Mercury (Hg) contamination in agricultural land is a major constraint in rice
cultivation as it negatively affects plant physiological performance and yield. This
study aimed to evaluate the physiological characteristics and yield of F2 rice (Oryza
sativa L.) derived from crosses of mercury-tolerant parental lines. The research was
conducted at the Experimental Field of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas
Sumatera Utara, Medan, in April 2025. The plant materials consisted of ten F2
genotypes along with their reciprocal crosses derived from five rice varieties,
namely IF-16, IR-64, Inpari-32, Cakrabuana, and Siganteng. The planting medium
was topsoil treated with 15 ppm mercury to simulate heavy metal stress conditions.
Observed parameters included chlorophyll content, stomatal density, leaf area,
fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots, and yield per plant. The results showed
significant differences among several genotypes and their reciprocals in most
physiological and yield parameters under mercury stress. Certain cross
combinations exhibited better physiological performance and higher yield,
indicating the inheritance of mercury tolerance traits from the parental lines.
Therefore, F2 rice genotypes derived from mercury-tolerant parents have potential
as selection materials in breeding programs aimed at developing mercury-tolerant
rice varieties. | en_US |
