Evaluation of finegrain aromatic rice lines in international observational nursery (IRFAON-2012).

In order to preliminary evaluate the finegrain aromatic rice genotypes in the International observational nursery (IRFAON-2012), the 14th series of the genotypes was sent from IRRI to RRII in Rasht and Amol in 2012. The genotypes were 36 lines and 7 international check varieties, including Basmati 370, IR50, IR64, IR72, PSB RC2, PSB RC64, PSB RC18 and a local check variety. While, the high yielding variety of Fajr was used as a local check in Amol, 2 varieties of Dorfak and Gohar were used as check varieties in Rasht. All genotypes were sowed in the nursery and then transplanted in the main field in Augmented experiment based on the randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Morphological characteristics were evaluated according to the IRRI instructions. Several genotypes as well as check varieties of Basmati 370, PSB RC2 and IR72 were not germinated at the seed bed because of lack of seed viability. Several factors were considered in the selection of the genotypes such as early to medium maturity, plant height, yield, quality traits, length/width ratio of brown rice, tolerance to stem borer and resistance to blast as a main diseases of rice. According to the results of the experiment in Amol, the high-yielding variety of Shiroodi and the genotypes of RI1812084-25-1-1, PR33319-9-1-1-5-3-5-4-1, RI1812084-12-1-1, RI1812084-96-1-1, UPR2729-15-1-1-1 were selected. In Rasht, however, Shiroodi and RI1812084-12-1-1, RI1812084-25-1-1, RI1812084-90-1-1, RI1812084-95-1-1, RI1812084-96-1-1 had the best performance and were selected for further studies. These results suggest that the genotypes with the origin of Iranian cultivars performed better in comparison with the other genotypes and more attention should be paid to the breeding lines of Iran. Key words: Aromatic and Finegrain rice, Augmented design, Genotype, IRRI