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Khan et al., J. Anim. Plant Sci. 23(2):2013 The Journal of Animal Plant Sciences, 23(2): 2013, Page: 575-588 ISSN: 1018-7081 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GRAIN YIELD AND BIOCHEMICAL TRAITS OF DIFFERENT RICE VARIETIES GROWN UNDER SALINE AND NORMAL CONDITIONS. * S. K. Khan, J. Iqbal and M. Saeed School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. * Department of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Corresponding Author e-mail: saeed242@ ABSTRACT Salinity is a major abiotic stress limiting rice production worldwide. Grain yield and different biochemical traits are important in crop adaptation and tolerance to salinity stress. In the present study, 24 rice varieties were evaluated by conducting field trials under natural saline condition (salinity block) and normal field condition during 2010 and 2011. Twenty four rice varieties were categorized into four groups- salt tolerant, moderately salt tolerant, moderately salt susceptible and salt susceptible based on salinity tolerance and grain yield data of two years. Pokkali, Basmati-198 and Sathra-278 were categorized as salt tolerant varieties. All categories of rice varieties showed distinct differences in studied biochemical traits under saline conditions compared to control. Higher amount of total cations were ruinous for rice plant, whereas, higher