Evaluation of Exotic and Local Rice Hybrids

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate two exotic rice hybrids (CH-1, CH2) and two locally developed rice hybrid combinations (HR-10, Bg407H) with two standard check (SC) inbred varieties (Bg357, Bg403) and a restorer line (R16). The experiment was conducted in Maha season in 2015/2016 at research field of Rice Research and Development Institute, Batalagoda according to the randomized complete block design with four replicates. All the agronomic practices were conducted according to the recommendations of Department of Agriculture (DOA). The grain yield of the tested hybrids CH-1, CH-2, HR-10, and Bg407H was 2.54 t/h, 3.27 t/h, 3.62 t/h and 4.09 t/h, respectively. These yield levels were not significantly higher than the yield of their check varieties: 3.16 t/h (Bg 357) and 4.05 t/h (Bg403). CH-2 recorded a significantly higher 1000 grain weight (TGW) (33.1g) compared to the respective check variety Bg357 (22.3g) and all inbred varieties. This was not significantly higher compared to TGW of all hybrids. Filled grain/panicle (FG/P), unfilled grain/panicle (UFG/P), flag leaf length (FLL) and flag leaf weight (FLW) were not significantly different among all hybrids. Tested four hybrids (CH-1, CH-2, HR-10 and Bg407H) showed standard heterosis 14.67%, 3.66%, 15.83% and 1.47%, respectively. These exotic hybrid CH-1 and CH-2 did not show high level (>15%) of heterosis to be selected for local cultivation.