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A laboratory experiment was conducted in completely randomized design replicated five times with thirty six aerobic rice genotypes at department of crop physiology S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati during kharif, 2015-16. The screening was conducted both in petriplate (0, -5 and -10bars) and paper roll method (0, -1 and -2bars) at three different concentrations through Poly ethylene glycol (PEG) induced moisture stress. A significant variation was observed among the genotypes for germination percentage, seedling vigour index and co-efficient of velocity of germination. From the results Eight genotypes were taken as early vigorous viz., JGL-11727, JGL-20171, MTU-7029, MTU-1010, NLR-40024, NLR-33671, NLR-3042, NLR-4002 and two late vigorous genotypes viz., MTU-1112 and MTU-1075 were selected for dry direct sowing based on their performance evaluated through germination percentage, seedling vigor index and co-efficient of velocity of germination. Among several problems of dry direct sowing, weed menace is the major one. In order to cope up with this situation the cultivars developed for dry direct sowing must have weed competitiveness. It can be achieved through high seedling vigor. Thus the aim of the present experiment was to screen the rice genotypes for ‘early vigour’ which is said to be one of the prime characters of rice genotypes for dry direct sowing in aerobic cultivation. Genotypes exhibited high seedling vigour in the laboratory reflected the same in the field.

Key words: Dry direct seeded rice– seedling vigor –PEG induced screening