Yield Stability and Genotype x Environment Interactions of Upland Rice in Altitudinal Gradient in Madagascar
- Publication Type
- Contribution to conference
- Authors
- Shresta, S.P., Asch, F. Dusserre, J., Ramanantsoanirina, A.<a href="http://www.tropentag.de/2011/abstracts/full/517.pdf" target="_blank"><b><font color="#FF0000"> - PDF</font></b></a>
- Year of publication
- 2011
- Published in
- Development on the margin
- Editor
- Becker, M. et al.
- Pubisher
- Cuvillier Verlag , Göttingen
- Page (from - to)
- 297
- Conference name
- Tropentag 2011
- Conference location
- Bonn
Upland rice production has world-wide the largest potential for increasing area under
production and thus contributing to food security in low-input farming systems. Upland
rice is cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical rainfed environments in aerobic soils without
impounding water. Production in high altitudes has been limited so far since the vegetation
period in most cases does not allow growing rice due to its extended growth cycle.
In addition, high altitudes are unfavourable as cold stress can induce pollen or spikelet
sterility at anthesis. However, cold tolerant genotypes are capable to cope with this environment
and can produce stable grain yield. According to climate change prediction, highaltitude
environments will gain importance in upland rice production systems due to the
expected positive effects such as rise in temperature and reducing sterility assuming that
other climatic factors such as rainfall patterns will not have adverse effects. In order to
evaluate the genetic variation in yield response across an altitudinal gradient experiments
were conducted at three different altitude/temperature gradient locations with moderately
water-limited conditions, ranging from hot-equatorial conditions to the lower limit of the
crop’s thermal adaptation in Madagascar for two years. 10 different and contrasting upland
rice genotypes were sown at two monthly staggered sowing dates and meteorological data
and site-specific soil characteristics were recorded. Genotype specific crop duration, tillering
capacity, above ground biomass, grain yield and yield components, harvest index and
spikelet sterility were monitored to identify specific traits for varietal adaptation. The result
of yield stability and genotype-environment interaction will be discussed and presented.