Table 1 Descriptive analysis of phenotypic, physiological and yield traits measured in Trial 1

Plant height (cm)

110.74 ± 12.71

116.05 ± 12.78

82.50–135.00

87.50–144.10

−4.58

0.000251774

Tiller number

7.53 ± 1.22

10.25 ± 1.39

5.00–11.00

7.00–14.00

−26.54

2.04E-41

Days to 50% flowering

94.65 ± 10.01

88.47 ± 10.81

67.50–119.00

61.50–114

6.99

3.8E-07

Leaf temperature (°C)

28.26 ± 0.589

27.50 ± 0.533

26.95–29.00

26.00–29.35

2.76

3.16E-27

Leaf rolling score

4.80 ± 1.38

–

1.78–7.78

–

–

Leaf drying score

1.93

–

1.56–9.00

–

–

Relative water content (%)

65.19 ± 4.78

84.13 ± 3.22

57.34–78.72

75.70–90.17

−22.51

1.3E-127

Cell membrane stability index (%)

84.95 ± 3.72

–

80.28–94.36

–

–

–

Chlorophyll stability index (%)

86.14 ± 3.57

–

80.36–95.59

–

–

–

Yield/plant (g)

9.55 ± 1.89

12.94 ± 2.38

6.55–14.47

8.33–19.64

−26.20

1.05E-34

Thousand grain weight (g)

22.71 ± 1.48

23.55 ± 1.41

17.55–25.35

18.70–25.95

−3.57

5.71E-07

Spikelet fertility percentage (%)

65.26 ± 4.58

75.43 ± 4.75

54.19–78.22

64.96–86.91

−13.48

2E-55

Percentage relative yield reduction

25.48 ± 4.64

–

14.84–43.81

–

–

–

Drought susceptibility index

1.00 ± 0.062

–

0.86–1.14

–

–

–

Soil moisture (%)

–

–

12.4–30.96

–

–

–