*4.2. Preparation of Seeds for the Germination Test*

The RILs and their parents were grown in the experimental fields in 2017, where the nursery sowing date was 15th April, and transplanting was done on 16th May, with one seedling per hill. Sixty plants of each line were planted in 4 rows, with a plant to plant distance of 13.3 × 30 cm. The planting of the segregated *qLTG6* population was performed during the rice-growing seasons of 2018. The sowing and transplanting dates were 18th April and 21st May, respectively. The transplanting standards were kept consistent with those of the RILs. Field management practices were done according to the most followed agricultural practices of local farmers. The nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers, in the form of Urea, single superphosphate, and Murate of Potash, were applied at rates of 120, 60, and 60 kg/ha, respectively. Rice harvesting was done on 30 September, and the plants were

retained to dry them for three months. Immature and unfilled grains were removed to obtain high quality grain, which was stored at 5 ◦C to maintain the relative humidity around 10%.
