Improved Root Systems for Rice 83

Improved Root Systems for Rice-83
Project Leader and Principal Investigators J. N. Rutger, USDA, Dept. of Agronomy & Range Science, UC Davis	The objectives as modified from the original proposal were to characterize approximately 340 genetic lines of upland rice and other exotic materials from Africa, South America and Asia. These lines were capable of producing seed in the cool Davis environment and had diverse backgrounds and differing grain types, as well as different root and stem characteristics from any previous materials introduced into the United States. In 1982, about 340 lines introduced from Africa, South America and Asia were identified as being potentially useful in California when tested at the Rice Research Facility at Davis. Considerable variability was found in 1000-grain weight, which ranged from 11 to 44 grams. The California check variety M-101 has a 1000-grain weight of 26 grams. About a third of the lines were semidwarf, while the remainder were tall. No relationship was found between grain weight and days to heading. The large seeded and other lines in this experiment are of particular interest as donor parents for a genetic male sterile facilitated crossing program. In the future, use of these lines in a crossing program will be included as a part of the project on Rice Genetics and Physiology under the leadership of Dr. J. N. Rutger. The project as initially proposed was much broader and under the leadership of Ivan Buddenhagen. Because of funding limitations, Buddenhagen withdrew from the project and Rutger completed the above part of the original project in accordance with agreements made with the Rice Research Board.

Improved Root Systems
for Rice-83

Project Leader and Principal Investigators

J. N. Rutger, USDA, Dept. of Agronomy & Range Science, UC Davis

The objectives as modified from the original proposal were to characterize approximately 340 genetic lines of upland rice and other exotic materials from Africa, South America and Asia. These lines were capable of producing seed in the cool Davis environment and had diverse backgrounds and differing grain types, as well as different root and stem characteristics from any previous materials introduced into the United States.

In 1982, about 340 lines introduced from Africa, South America and Asia were identified as being potentially useful in California when tested at the Rice Research Facility at Davis. Considerable variability was found in 1000-grain weight, which ranged from 11 to 44 grams. The California check variety M-101 has a 1000-grain weight of 26 grams. About a third of the lines were semidwarf, while the remainder were tall. No relationship was found between grain weight and days to heading.

The large seeded and other lines in this experiment are of particular interest as donor parents for a genetic male sterile facilitated crossing program. In the future, use of these lines in a crossing program will be included as a part of the project on Rice Genetics and Physiology under the leadership of Dr. J. N. Rutger.

The project as initially proposed was much broader and under the leadership of Ivan Buddenhagen. Because of funding limitations, Buddenhagen withdrew from the project and Rutger completed the above part of the original project in accordance with agreements made with the Rice Research Board.