SCREENING RICE HYBRID GENOTYPES FOR BLAST AND BROWN SPOT DISEASES RESISTANCE AND YIELD PERFORMANCE

Rice occupies a prominent place among the cereals produced in Burkina Faso. However, its production faces constraints that impact the performance of the varieties developed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate new hybrid rice varieties with regard to their resistance to blast and brown spot diseasesand their agronomic performances. The plant material consisted of 9 rice varieties, including 04 local controls. Trials were set up in a Fisher block design with 03 replicates at Bama, Banfora and Sindou sites over a two-year study period. Data were collected on the severity and incidence of blast and brown spot disease, as well as on agronomic parameters. The study showed that hybrids were the most resistant to blast and brown spot disease. In addition, maturity was later at the Sindou site than at the other two sites. The WDR1517, WDR73 and WDR737 hybrids were the latest to reach semi-maturity, with cycles ranging from 120 to 132 days. However, hybrids WDR3015 and WDR306 performed better agronomically, with yields of over 9,000 kg/ha on all sites. Yield stability analysis showed that hybrid WDR73 was the most stable of the varieties, with an average yield of 8310 kg/ha. The three-dimensional analysis also proved that these varieties would adapt to our countrys 03 agro-ecological areas.