Physiological and biochemical responses of five nerica rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.) to water deficit at vegetative and reproductive stage

Abstract

Food shortage is a major problem in sub Saharan Africa as population increases. Over 89% of Kenyans are food poor and are malnourished especially in rural areas. NERICA (New Rice for Africa) are high yielding rainfed rice varieties with early maturity and has shown high potential to revolutionize rice farming even in Africa's stress afflicted ecologies. However, NERICA varieties vary in their response to water deficit. A pot experiment was conducted in 2009 at the Maseno University Botanic garden, to evaluate the responses of five NERICA varieties (NERICA1, NERICA 2, NERICA 3, NERICA 4 and NERICA 5) to water deficit during their vegetative or reproductive stage of their development. The response pattern of physiological and biochemical parameters to water deficit imposed at different growth stages might provide basis for selecting the most tolerant variety to …