Multi location Performance Evaluation of Exotic Hybrid Rice (oryza sativa l.) Varieties in Eastern Zone of Tanzania

ABSTRACT 

Three exotic hybrid rice genotypes, HEU 022, HEU 188 and HEU 528 from China were tested to evaluate their stability and adaptability in the eastern agronomic zone of Tanzania. Three commonly grown varieties, SUPA, SARO 5 and TXD 88, were used as checks. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) experiment with three replications was carried out at four locations, ARI-Cholima, ARI-Katrin, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and Kilangali Rice Seed Farm all located in Morogoro Region during the March to August 2011 cropping season. Seeds were established in a nursery and transplanted to the main plots after 21 days of growth. All rice cultural practices such as weeding, fertilization and irrigation were done according to the site specifications. After harvest, small grain sample were taken for grain quality assessment which was conducted in the Department of Food Science and Technology Laboratory at SUA. The results showed high genetic divergence and phenotypic variability among the hybrids, with the maximum range of variation being on yield components and minimum on grain quality variables. Genotypes x Environment interactions were also high, especially for yield components. Overall, genotypic correlations showed linear positive correlation of grain yield with number of panicles per hill (P), percentage filled grains per panicle (FG) and number of grains per panicle (GP). Plant height (PH) was negatively correlated with grain yield. Grain length (GL) was positively correlated with length: breadth ratio (LBR) and aroma. In general, the tested hybrids exhibited outstanding performance in terms of yield compared to the check varieties at all locations. Grain quality did not differ significantly among the tested varieties, implying that these hybrids could get as good a market demand as the check varieties.