The influence of rice plant type on the effect of weed competition on Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima

• Published in: Weed research Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 207 - 216
• Main Authors: JOHNSON, D. E, DINGKUHN, M, JONES, M. P, MAHAMANE, M. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-06-1998; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Pest resistance; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Weeds; West Africa; Africa; Ivory Coast; Plant production; Tillering; Monocotyledones; Weed; Tropical zone; Interspecific comparison; Cereal crop; Competitive ability; Oryza sativa; Gramineae; Genetic improvement; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Cultivar; Leaf area index
• ISSN: 0043-1737; 1365-3180
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3180.1998.00092.x

Detailed studies were conducted on three rice cultivars – IG10, an Oryza glaberrima Steudel; Moroberekan, a traditional Oryza sativa L.; and IDSA6, an improved O. sativa L. – in conditions with and without competition from weeds. IG10 suffered less from competition with weeds and suppressed weeds better than the O. sativa cultivars. IG10 accumulated more biomass, produced more tillers, established a higher leaf area index, had higher specific leaf area and, in the earlier stages of growth, partitioned more of its biomass to leaves than the O. sativa cultivars. Without competition from weeds, grain yields did not significantly differ between the cultivars, but IG10 produced higher yields in competition with weeds. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the development of rice plants with good weed suppression characteristics.