Upland NERICA Research Articles

Enhancing yield attributes in rainfed upland rice through incorporation of 6-benzylaminopurine in the cultivation program

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the response of two upland rice varieties to incorporation of 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP) into the traditional fertilizer program. Treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in 2 x 5 x 2 factorial including 2 upland rice varieties (NERICA 3 (N3) and NERICA 8 (N8)), 5 treatments notably T0 = Controls (NPK 20:10:10 and Urea 46%), T1 = 6-BAP (25mg/l), T2 = 6-BAP (50mg/l), T3 = 6-BAP (75mg/l) and T4 = 6-BAP (100mg/l) all repeated twice. All the treatments received NPK (20:10:10) + Urea 46% while application of T1 to T4 started at the flag leaf stage and was done in 3 splits of foliar sprays. The results revealed that 6-BAP significantly influenced mean number of stay green tillers/m2 at 120 days after transplanting with corresponding scores of 16, 87.5, 111, 110 and 127 for T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 in Nerica 3. Maximum paddy yield in N3 were 8.37 and 4.49 t/ha respectively for T3 and T0 while in N8, paddy yields were 7.36 and 4.6 t/ha correspondingly for T4 and T0. In N3, broken grains rate after milling was 34.45 and 26.30 % individually for the control and T3 while in N8 grain breaking rate of 28.81 and 25.16 % were respectively scored by T0 and T3. This study reveals that, foliar spray of 6-benzylaminopurine at 75 mg/l in three splits of 7 days during flag leaf stage optimizes upland NERICA yields and grain morphological characteristics after milling.

Upland rice: A new high potential non-traditional cash crop for Africa

Rice is the main staple food for almost half of the world’s population and leading cereal in terms of production area and consumption. Rapid urbanization and changes in consumer preferences have led to a concomitant increase in consumption which so far exceeds any other crop in Africa. Therefore, upland rice cropping has become a common sight in Africa as farmers engage in diversification and respond to demand for the crop. Interspecific hybridization of African rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud.) and Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) produced upland rice NERICA varieties that combine adaptability, tolerance to stresses and high production potential. Traditional African rice varieties though adapted to the continent are prone to lodging, shattering and comparatively low yielding which adversely affects production and consequently their adoption. Some of the poorest farmers are found in Africa where there is dependence on biomass cooking fuel and upland rice has greater significance. There is, therefore, need to re-evaluate the role played by the crop, identify gaps and proffer solutions that will make it productive and widely cultivated. Accordingly, this review intends to examine upland rice production patterns and strides which can be made to sustainably increase its productivity so that there is food and nutrition security. Some of the pertinent issues that need to be considered include prioritization of farmer preferences in quality and agronomic attributes to enhance adoption. Upland rice breeding programs can go beyond traditional breeding for stresses and yield but focus on genetic biofortification to use the crop as a conduit for vital nutrients. Ultimately, for sustainable rice productivity, there is need to have affordable infrastructure to lessen labor requirement particularly during production and post-harvest processing. Moreover, there is need to build institutional capacity to conduct more research and offer extension services to support production of the crop. A wider product portfolio for the crop will subsequently have a multiplier effect and enhance adoption of rice production by many farmers in Africa. The ultimate aim is to spread awareness of upland rice as an alternative cash crop that can be produced in suitable agroecologies in Africa. Key words: Crop diversification, NERICA, Oryza glaberrima, Oryza sativa, Upland rice

Growth and Productivity Assessment of Short-Duration Rice (Oryza sativa L. and Upland NERICA) Genotypes in Semiarid North-Central Namibia

In semiarid regions, drought is the major threat to crop production, but climate change and variability often bring floods to the regions, forming seasonal wetlands causing damage to local, drought-adapted staple grains and, hence, low yields and food deficit. Introduction of the semiaquatic crop rice (Oryza spp.) to these semiarid wetlands could complement the dryland crop low yields and overcome the food shortage problem. A field experiment was carried out at the University of Namibia-Ogongo Campus during the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 cropping seasons to assess the growth and yield of rice genotypes. Twelve short-duration rice genotypes, nine from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and three locally grown upland NERICA genotypes, were used. Parametric analysis of variance was performed to test their effects on crop growth and yield characters. The results showed significant genotype by year interaction for days to heading, plant height, the number of tillers per m2, shoot biomass, the number of panicles per m2, 1000-grain weight, harvest index, and grain yield. The IRRI genotypes produced a higher number of tillers, shoot biomass, and grain yield than the NERICA ones, which were early maturing, were taller, and had higher 1000-grain weight across the years. Generally, most of the genotypes had lower grain yield and higher shoot biomass in the first year, due to the prevailing cool, rainy, and seemingly cloudy weather conditions associated with lower temperature and lower solar radiation. Grain yield was positively correlated with most characters but negatively correlated with the 1000-grain weight. These results demonstrate the yield superiority of IRRI genotypes over their early-maturing NERICA counterparts. However, further studies on morphological characters and drought tolerance of the IRRI genotypes are warranted to ascertain production sustainability under semiarid environments.

Effect of soil moisture stress at booting and flowering stages on pollen development, pollination and fertilization in upland NERICA cultivars

Spikelet sterility induced by soil moisture stress during reproductive development greatly limits grain yield in upland rice. This study aimed to elucidate differences in responses to soil moisture stress for pollen development, pollination and fertilization among upland rice cultivars. A greenhouse experiment with a split-plot design was performed for five different soil moisture treatments (T1 to T5) as the main plots and three cultivars (NERICA 1, NERICA 4 and Yumenohatamochi) as subplots, each with three replicates. Plants in pots were grown under well-watered condition (T1) and various moisture stress conditions: moderate at the booting stage (T2), severe at the booting stage (T3), moderate at the flowering stage (T4) or severe at the flowering stage (T5). During the 9-day stress period, soil moisture was maintained at -10 to -20 kPa for moderate moisture stress or -20 to -49 kPa for severe moisture stress under controlled irrigation. NERICA 1 had fewer differentiated microspores and developed pollen grains in T2 and T3 and showed poorer anther dehiscence and fewer pollen grains on the stigma than did NERICA 4 and Yumenohatamochi. NERICA 4 showed a lower percentage of basal dehiscence in T4 and T5, causing fewer pollen grains to be deposited on the stigma than for NERICA 1 and Yumenohatamochi. The results indicate that the highly sensitive process of fertilization are pollen development in NERICA 1 and pollination in NERICA 4 under soil moisture stress

Effect of Soil Moisture Stress at Panicle Development Stage on Growth and Yield of Upland NERICA Cultivars

Effect of Soil Moisture Stress at Panicle Development Stage on Growth and Yield of Upland NERICA Cultivars

Effect of Soil Moisture Stress at Panicle Development Stage on Spikelet Differentiation and Degeneration of Upland NERICA Cultivars

Effect of Soil Moisture Stress at Panicle Development Stage on Spikelet Differentiation and Degeneration of Upland NERICA Cultivars

Molecular characterisation of upland Ofada cultivars and NERICA rice for drought tolerance and their genetic relationships

Tolerance to water deficit had been reported in Ofada and NERICA rice. The genetic basis of this is unknown. The objective of this experiment was to characterise the genetic basis for tolerance of upland Ofada and NERICA rice to water deficit and determine their genetic relationship. Genomic studies were conducted on upland Ofada rice genotypes (Golden red, straw gold, FUNAABOR 1 and 2) and NERICA rice (NERICA 7 and 8). Among the seven simple sequence repeats markers (RM 212, 36, 3805, 201 and 1115) genetically evaluated two (RM 72 and RM 316) were selected based on their polymorphism (Polymorphic information content and markers index). They both exhibited QTL brt8-12 and QRsf9 in RM 72 and RM 316 respectively, known for drought tolerance. Upland rice cultivars Golden Red, NERICA 8 and NERICA 7 exhibited higher QTL brt8-12 based on their gene ladder more than others on the RM 72 primer. NERICA 7, FUNAABOR 1 and FUNAABOR 2 occupied the highest DNA ladder in the marker RM 316, suggesting the high presence of the QTL QRsf9. Golden Red and NERICA 8 had similar genetic relationship and are better utilised with those of dissimilar sources (Straw Gold) to ensure desirable genetic variation.Keywords: DNA marker, genetic crop improvement, polymorphic information content, Quantitative trait Loci (QTL), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR),

Effects of Rainfall, Continuous Cropping, and Fertilizer on Yield and Yield Components of an Upland NERICA Variety:

Effects of Rainfall, Continuous Cropping, and Fertilizer on Yield and Yield Components of an Upland NERICA Variety:

Responses of Upland NERICA Rice to Fertiliser Application and Fallow Management in Different Agro-Ecological Zones of Benin Republic

Recent findings reported that introduction of legumes as an intercrop or in rotation to minimize external inputs can reverse the declining of soil fertility in upland rice agrosystem and so improve the productive capacity of farms. The objectives of the study were to assess (1) the effects of rotation of upland rice with other crops, of fertiliser application and of rice varieties on rice yield and (2) the interaction effects of rotation, fertiliser application and variety on rice production. An experiment was carried out from 2011 to 2012 in 2 zones in Benin Republic, West Africa. Three rice rotation treatments were established where in the year preceding rice cropping the following pre-crops were grown: (1) natural fallow regrowth (2) sole cowpea crop and (3) cowpea/maize intercrop. The following year, 3 NERICA varieties were cultivated in the three pre-crop treatments with and without fertiliser application. With respect to combined effect of NP mineral fertiliser and rotation, a consistent increase in rice yield over all varieties was only observed with maize-cowpea intercrop preceding rice in the Guinean zone. Improved fallow with cowpea combined with fertiliser was beneficial for NERICA 2 and NERICA 4 in the Sudano –Guinean zone and with NERICA 1 and NERICA 4 in the Guinean zone. Rice in rotation with maize-cowpea intercrop and in combination with NP mineral fertiliser can easily fit into the current smallholder farming systems under rain-fed conditions in the Guinean zone, but is not recommendable for the Sudano- Guinean zone.

Combining Ability for Drought Tolerance in Upland Rice Varieties at Reproductive Stage

Rice is an important food crop for human population ranking second among the mostly consumed cereal grains worldwide. Upland rice production is greatly constrained by drought stress resulting from rainfall variation patterns. Cultivation of drought tolerant varieties is considered the best option for drought management in rice production. The already released upland rice varieties are drought susceptible and have poor grain attributes hence, the aim of this study was to determine the combining ability for drought tolerance in upland rice. Four upland NERICA and two upland rice varieties were selected as parents for generating F1s crosses following 6 × 6 complete diallel. The generated 30 F1 crosses were advanced to F2 population for field evaluation. The F2 progenies together with six parents were planted in two sites; KALRO-Mwea Center Farm and Kirogo research Farm following a randomized complete block design in three replications. Drought stress was initiated 45 days after sowing after which data was collected on drought and agronomic parameters. The study revealed large genetic variations among the genotypes used. Both GCA and SCA were significant indicating the importance of both additive and non additive gene action in the expression of studied traits. In this study NERICA 2 and NERICA 15 were identified as good combiners for drought tolerance and grain yield under drought conditions. The single crosses namely; NERICA 15 × NERICA 2, NERICA 1 × NERICA 15, NERICA 11 × NERICA 15 and NERICA 2 × NERICA 15 were identified as superior for improving yield under drought conditions.

Yield Traits and Water Productivity Responses among Rice Varieties (Oryza sativa L.) Grown in A Fadama Ecosystem in Akure, Southwestern Nigeria

Drought is the most important factor limiting rice productivity under rainfed system of the humid tropics. Field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of soil water management strategies (growth on residual soil moisture at the vegetative stage supplemented with irrigation at the reproductive stage and growth under full irrigation throughout) on water use, yield and yield components of four varieties of rice grown in the dry season in an inland valley swamp (fadama). The four selected varieties were two upland (Ekpoma local and upland Nerica 4) and two lowland (lowland Nerica 1 and 2). The first planting (December, 2010) adequacy of soil moisture from planting to date of first flowering was assumed, thereafter irrigation was imposed during reproductive growth. In the second sowing (Janaury, 2011), rice plants were drip-irrigated from Original Research Article Agele et al.; AJEA, 5(5): 435-449, 2015; Article no.AJEA.2015.043 436 planting to seed harvest. The results indicated that differences between the December and January sowing dates were found significant for most of the traits measured (root and shoot weight, leaf area, plant height, number of tillers, weights of panicle and 100-seed and harvest index). Total seed yield and harvest indices (3.19 t ha:10.1) were higher in January over December (1.24 t.ha: 6.3) sowing in addition to higher water use efficiencies (0.053 and 0.031 t.ha -1 .mm -1 ). The seed yield reduction was associated with reductions in plant height (103.4:76.8 cm), leaf area (51.9: 76.1 m 2 ) and shoot weight (103.7: 76.8 g) across all tested lines. Seasonal soil moisture storage ranged from 186 to 223 mm for the respective first (December) and second (January) sowing dates. The two best lines (Upland cultivars: Ekpoma and Nerica 4), had similar yield performance when grown under irrigation from planting to maturity (harvest) but differed significantly in their trait combinations. Over other varieties, upland Ekpoma and Nerica 4 exhibited superior ability to produce tillers, panicle and seed weights in both first and second sowing dates. Functional relationships between some weather variables and growth and yield characteristics of rice which gave high regression coefficients (R 2 ) showed that, the differences in shoot biomass and seed yield production between the sowing dates were explained by a combination of weather parameters. The evaluated varietal yield potential and related traits measured under variable soil moisture regimes were discussed in relation to genotypic adaptation (drought tolerance) among the tested rice varieties. It is concluded that, in a cultivar, higher yield potential may be related to ability to tolerate multiple and concurrent abiotic stresses of soil and air moisture deficit and temperature stresses.

Influence of Agro Ecology on Rice Varietal Resistance to <i>Sitophilus oryzae</i> (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and <i>Sitotroga cerealella</i> (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Benin

The rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and the Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.), are serious pests of stored rice in Africa. This study aims to evaluate the influence of growing environments to rice resistance to these pests. Thus, eleven rice varieties including 6 upland NERICA, 2 Oryza glaberrima and 3 O. sativa were grown at four agro ecological zones of Benin. After harvest, samples of 1500 grains of each genotype were infested with 20 adults of S. oryzae (10 males and 10 females) and 1500 additional ones were infested with 50 eggs of S. cerealella. Results showed significant effect of agro ecological zones on pest incidence and on varietal resistance as well. O. glaberrima varieties (TOG 5681 and CG 14) were the most resistant in each location whereas the resistance of NERICA and Sativa varieties varied from tolerant to susceptible according to the growing ecology. This result highlights the impact of growing environment on rice resistance status and will provide the best advice to farmers on how to choose best genetic material according to cropping ecology.

Development of a SNP genotyping panel for detecting polymorphisms in Oryza glaberrima/O. sativa interspecific crosses

Oryza glaberrima accessions harbor genes for tolerance to abiotic stresses such as mineral deficiency in problem soils. This genetic potential could be exploited in interspecific crosses with Oryza sativa, as in the case of the ‘New Rice for Africa’ (NERICA) varieties; however, to attain this goal it would be desirable to develop a high-throughput marker system to specifically detect O. glaberrima introgressions in an O. sativa background. Therefore, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping analysis of an O. glaberrima accession (CG14) with two O. sativa lines (WAB56-104 and WAB181-18) was performed on a genome-wide basis. Comparison of CG14 and the WAB lines resulted in a set of 9,523 polymorphic SNPs which would be suitable to detect O. glaberrima introgressions in upland NERICAs. In addition, a set of 1,540 polymorphic SNPs between O. glaberrima versus O. sativa was identified. A subset of SNPs which were evenly distributed in the genome was then used to design a flexible and cost-effective SNP genotyping panel using the Competitive Allele-Specific PCR technology (KASP). This SNP genotyping panel consists of 2,015 SNPs successfully converted into KASP markers, providing 745 polymorphic SNPs for the parents O. glaberrima CG14/O. sativa WAB56-104 (upland NERICA), and 752 for O. glaberrima TOG5681/O. sativa IR64 (lowland NERICA). KASP markers were successfully validated by mapping O. glaberrima introgressions in NERICA-derived breeding lines. This new SNP genotyping panel will be useful in modern breeding applications such as QTL mapping and/or marker-assisted selection.

Effects of Heterodera sacchari on Leaf Chlorophyll Content and Root Damage of some Upland NERICA Rice Cultivars

Heterodera sacchari is recognised as one of the most important soil-borne pathogens affecting rice in Nigeria. Pot and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of H. sacchari on leaf chlorophyll content of five upland NERICA rice (NR) cultivars: NR1, NR2, NR3, NR8 and NR14. Three-week old rice plants in pots were each inoculated with: 0, 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000 eggs and juveniles, respectively. The experiment was a 5x4 factorial arranged in a complete randomised design (CRD) replicated 6 times. The field experiment was carried out on a H. sacchari naturally-infested field and the experimental design was a split-plot in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) replicated four times. Data were taken on leaf chlorophyll content using Minolta SPAD-502 meter. Final nematode population was determined from rice roots and soil. Root damage was accessed on a scale of 1-5. Where: 1= (0% no damage) and 5= (>75%severe root damage). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and means were separated with LSD at P≤0.05. Leaf chlorophyll content of NR cultivars reduced significantly in nematode infected plants when compared with the control in both pot and field trials. Leaf chlorophyll depleted with increasing H. sacchari densities. In the field, leaf chlorophyll significantly reduced over time, increased root damage, wilting and eventual death of rice plants. These led to patchiness in the field, reduced plant population/ha and overall yield reduction.

Agronomic Evaluation of Some Drought Tolerant NERICA Rice Varieties to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Inoculation in the Rainforest Transitory Zone of Nigeria

Erratic rainfall distribution pattern poses serious challenge to food production in the rainforest transitory zone of Nigeria. Low input technology through the adoption of drought tolerant varieties (NERICA) and the application of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF) inoculum could be an alternative option for double cropping of upland rice. Field trials were conducted in the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in the early and late cropping season of 2012 in the transitory rainforest agro-ecology of Nigeria. The objective was to investigate the performance of some selected upland NERICA rice to the application of AMF inoculum. A 6 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted; six upland rice varieties selected with and without the application of AMF, laid out in split plot arrangement, with AMF in the main block, while variety was in the sub-plot. Each treatment was replicated three times. In both seasons, significant (P - AMF. In the early season there was no significant (P > 0.05) varietal variability on grain yield/ha. Conversely, in late season NERICA 4 recorded significantly (P < 0.05) higher grain yield (1050kg/ha) as suggested in significantly (P < 0.05) higher panicle/m2 (59.50). Performance of NERICA 4 was significantly increased by application of AMF inoculation in the late cropping season.

Effect of cowpea residue incorporation and nitrogen application rates on the productivity of upland rice

3 Abstract: A trial was conducted in 2009 and 2010 at the upland rice field of the Teaching and Research Farms of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (Latitude 7°2 N and 21°E) to investigate effects of cowpea residue incorporation and nitrogen application rates on the productivity of upland rice. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design in split- split plot arrangement and replicated three times. The main plots were incorporated cowpea residue and no cowpea residue incorporated, sub plot were the nitrogen rates (0, 20, 40 and 60 Kg N ha ) while the sub-sub plot were the rice varieties (NERICA 2 and ITA 150). Results 1 obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant treatments means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD). The yield and yield components of rice measured were significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by the incorporated cowpea residue, while nitrogen rates had significant (P < 0.01) influence on yield of rice in 2009 and 2010. Rice varieties showed significant (P < 0.01) difference on all traits measured. It is concluded that the incorporation of grain cowpea with nitrogen fertilizer significantly (P <0.01) enhanced the performance of upland NERICA rice.

Evaluation of Upland NERICA Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes for Grain Yield and Yield Components along an Altitude Gradient in Southwest Ethiopia

Evaluation of Upland NERICA Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes for Grain Yield and Yield Components along an Altitude Gradient in Southwest Ethiopia

Effect of Intercropping Maize and Cassava with Upland NERICA Rice Varieties on Stemborer Attack in Southwest Nigeria

Effect of Intercropping Maize and Cassava with Upland NERICA Rice Varieties on Stemborer Attack in Southwest Nigeria

Resistance Status of Upland NERICA Rice Varieties to Termite Damage in Northcentral Nigeria

Resistance Status of Upland NERICA Rice Varieties to Termite Damage in Northcentral Nigeria

Responses of upland NERICA® rice varieties to nitrogen and plant density

Improved varieties, nitrogen fertilizer, and plant spacing have been identified for increasing upland rice productivity. However, these factors have not been adequately investigated on interspecific rice, New Rice for Africa (NERICA®). Different levels of nitrogen (0, 30, 60 and 120 kg ha−1) and plant spacing (dibbling: 30 × 30 cm, 20 × 20 cm, and drilling: 25 × 5 cm) on the growth and yield of three interspecific rice varieties and a check variety were evaluated on Terre de barre soils. Rainfall in both years was unevenly distribution which caused drought in both years. Across both years, rice yield was significantly depressed with 60N and 120N by 53–81%, compared with other N levels. NERICA4 with 30N gave the highest panicles density and harvest index, and the best yield (1.2 Mg ha−1). Wide spacing of 20 × 20 cm or 30 × 30 cm with four plants stand−1 was optimum for the NERICA. Drilling rice at 25 × 5 cm with one plant stand−1 depressed yield. Results showed that in smallholder upland ecosystems prone to unpredictable drought, wide spacing and low N can be recommended for production of NERICA.