Abstract

Maji A. T, Gana A. S and Ukwungwu M. N

Oryza glaberrima accessions were characterized for their tolerance to drought, African rice gall midge, blast and some agronomic traits to source for donor resistant genes. The experiment was conducted at both Badeggi and Edozhigi. The blast and drought experiments were drilled in a single row of 70 cm each spaced 20 cm apart at Badeggi. While the African rice gall midge and morphological characterization experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Entries were planted in a single row of 5 m each in the replicate and spaced 20 x 20 cm. Result for African rice gall midge (AfRGM) at the two locations showed that there were resistant genes available in this population. 16% of the entries showed immune reaction (score 0) to the insect at Badeggi. At Edozhigi location none of the entries was immune or resistant, however 4% were moderately resistant (score 3). Result of drought screening showed that 27% of the entries showed resistant reaction at 32 days of water stress. Blast reaction at 5 weeks showed that none had resistant reaction to disease. The morphological description showed high variability among the entries. Therefore useful donor genes for drought and African rice gall midge could be made available in this population. TOG 6892 and 7270 could be selected for AfRGM, drought and early stage blast.