Abstract:
Thousands of traditional rice cultivars conserved in plant genetic resource center (PGRC), Gannoruwa, Sri Lanka can
be used to manipulate the genetic constitution of modern rice cultivars by conventional breeding programs or by gene
transformation. Evaluation of agronomic, yield and yield attributing characters of these cultivars would lead to
understand the possibility of utilization of these cultivars in local agricultural systems. Twenty Sri Lankan traditional
rice cultivars were transplanted in the field at Faculty of Agriculture, Mapalana in 2012 Maha season. The experiment
was carried out according to the randomized complete block design with three replicates and 2 0 plants per replicate
with 15 cm X 20 cm spacing. Days to flowering, plant height, number of tillers, number of fertile tillers, filled grain
percentage, 100 grain weight and yield per plant were evaluated at the reproductive stage. Muthumanikam recorded
the highest average plant height (184 cm) and Yakada Wee recorded the lowest average plant height (95 cm) at
reproductive stage. Kalukanda recorded the highest number oftillers per plant (7). Yakada Wee, Thawalu,
Rathkaraand Masuran recorded 3 tillers per plant.Accordingto IRRI standard system, 75% of rice cultivars evaluated
were very tall and 70% of rice cultivars were low tillering. There was a correlation (r = 0.452) between days to
maturity and plant height at 0.05% probability level.
