Reaction of local and improved cultivars of rice to iron toxicity in a rainfed lowland ecology at Edozhigi, Nigeria

One hundred and nine rice varieties were screened for their reaction to iron toxicity. The trial was conducted at Edozhigi, Niger state in Gbako Local Government Area, in a natural field condition. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Entries were planted in single rows of 5m each at a spacing of 20 x20 cm. Iron toxicity scores were taken at 40 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT) for three years. The results showed that entries were more susceptible in the first year than in other years, and more resistant in the third year than in the other years. The overall mean for the three years showed that the scores were between 3 – 5 (moderately resistant to moderately susceptible reactions). However thirty two entries had scores of 1 and 2 at various scoring periods within the three years. Entries with lower scores at various times could be reevaluated to be used for iron toxicity prone areas.Key words- bronzing, rice and Oryza sp