Rice yellow mottle virus Infection and Reproductive Losses in Rice (Oryza sativa Linn.)

Abstract

The study on Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) infection and reproductive losses in rice was carried out under screenhouse condition in Nigeria. Thirty-five rice varieties were evaluated for RYMV resistance. Percent productive tillers, date to 50% flowering and percent spikelets fertility per plant were between 43.2-96.7%, 57.67-112 days and 0-71.8%, respectively. Number of panicles per plant, number of grains per panicle and 1000 grain weight per plant were between 8.33-45.67, 0-77 and 0-27.57 g, respectively. Yield losses of between 17-100% were obtained from all the rice varieties evaluated. Out of the 35 rice varieties studied, only Gigante (18%), Moroberekan (19%) and NERICA-L 42 (32%), have the least yield losses and RYMV resistance characteristics. The three varieties (Gigante, Moroberekan and NERICA-L 42) are known to possess stable resistance characteristic to RYMV disease and will comparatively be suitable for cultivation in areas where RYMV incidence is endemic and on a long term be used by rice breeders as sources for breeding for durable resistance to RYMV disease in Nigeria.