Abstract
In Guinea, traditional rice varieties are the most widely cultivated in rural areas despite their low yield and high susceptibility to iron toxicity. Moreover, the introduction of new improved varieties tolerant to iron toxicity poses a serious threat to the preservation of the genetic resources of these traditional varieties, whose genetic diversity remains poorly known. The present study therefore aims at a better valorisation of these local rice cultivars through the evaluation of their agromorphological diversity and the identification of genotypes potentially tolerant or resistant to iron toxicity. Thus, 90 accessions collected in the regions of Kindia and Macenta and six controls susceptible or resistant to iron toxicity (AZUCENA, BOUAKE 189, CK 73, IR64, NERICAL 19 and AURYLUX 6) were evaluated in three replicate alpha lattice designs in two sites (Seredou and Kilissi) using 16 agromorphological traits. The results showed significant agromorphological variability of the traditional accessions at both sites for all qualitative and most quantitative traits studied. In addition, 30 local cultivars expressed similar or higher grain yields than the resistant or tolerant controls at both sites, of which 12 were found to be stable at both sites. Of the 12 cultivars identified, five were resistant and seven tolerant to iron toxicity. These 12 accessions could be used in the varietal improvement of lowland rice in Guinea Conakry.
Highlights
Rice is one of the most consumed cereals in the world [1] with a production of over 479.2 million tonnes [2]
Despite the numerous works carried out by the Guinean Agricultural Research Institute in collaboration with Africarice to subdue the effects of this abiotic constraint through the creation of new varieties (ARICA6, ARICA18, NERICAL19, CK73) created by AfricaRice, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Kilissi that are iron-tolerant or iron-resistant, and through the use of alternative methods such as silica [14] or fertiliser, iron toxicity still hinders the development of rice production in Guinea
The different responses of the varieties can be explained either by the implementation of different resistance mechanisms by the plants or by different levels of resistance for the same resistance mechanism [21]. In both sites (Kilissi and Sérédou), 30 accessions were identified including 15 accessions per site based on their iron resistance, yields, and the choice made by farmers according to certain criteria such as size, grain colour, senescence and tillering
Summary
Rice is one of the most consumed cereals in the world [1] with a production of over 479.2 million tonnes [2]. Like most irrigated and rainfed lowlands in West Africa, iron toxicity is a major constraint to rice production in lowlands bordered by iron-rich plateaus [6]. It reduces growth, tillering, and soil fertility [7] and grain yields. Despite the numerous works carried out by the Guinean Agricultural Research Institute in collaboration with Africarice to subdue the effects of this abiotic constraint through the creation of new varieties (ARICA6, ARICA18, NERICAL19, CK73) created by AfricaRice, IRRI and Kilissi that are iron-tolerant or iron-resistant, and through the use of alternative methods such as silica [14] or fertiliser, iron toxicity still hinders the development of rice production in Guinea. The level and structure of agromorphological diversity of local accessions must be assessed and genotypes that are potentially tolerant or resistant to iron toxicity must be identified
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