Course Teacher: Dr.S.

SATHISH Seed Production Techniques in Varieties and Hybrids of

Rice

7. Seed Production Techniques in Varieties and Hybrids of Rice (Oryza sativa)

Interesting Facts Rice originated at least 130 million years ago as wild grass. It is suggested that
the word ‘rice’ could have been derived from the Tamil word arisi. The two major
varieties grown worldwide today are Oryza sativa var. indica and Oryza sativa
var. Japanica .The domesticated indica subspecies currently appears to be a
product of the introgression of favourable alleles from japonica.

Floral Biology Rice inflorescence is called as panicle. Panicle emerge in 4-5 days after boot
leaf exertion. Flowering proceeds from tip of the branches and completes within
6-8 days. Basipetal nature of anthesis. Time of anthesis is between 7- 10 AM.
Receptivity of stigma is for 3 days. Duration of pollen viability is 10 min.

Pollination Self pollination (Cross pollination is up to 4 %)

Methods of seed Varieties : Open pollination of plants raised in isolation

production
Hybrids : Cross pollination of male and female plants raised in isolation

Land The land should be free from volunteer plants (crop of previous season growing
Requirement in the planting season). The same crop or other varieties of the same crop should
not have been grown in the previous season. If it is the same crop (previous), it
should have been of the same variety that has been certified. This selection is
highly important for maintenance of genetic purity. Adequate irrigation and
drainage facilities should be available and the problem soils are not suitable for
seed production.
Isolation Foundation seed : 3 m

Certified seed : 3 m

NURSERY

Seed rate Varieties Seed rate

Short duration 60kg ha-1
Medium duration 40kg ha-1
Long duration 30kg ha-1
SRI 7- 8 kg/ha
Seed treatment  I Step : Seed fortification with KCl (1%) for 12 h followed by drying to
original seed moisture content
 II Step : Seed protection treatment with Bavistin @ 2 g Kg -1 of seed.
 III Step: Biofertilizer seed treatment by overnight soaking in a mixture of
Pseudomonasfluorescens@ 10 g Kg-1 in 2 l of water, (OR) Azospirillium
@ 600 g ha-1 seeds(OR)Phosphobacteria @ 600 g ha-1 seeds, mixed
with sufficient quantity of water.
 Later, seeds are shade dried for 30 minutes, loosely packed in wet gunny
bag and placed in darkness for 24 hours to facilitate sprouting.
Method of  Nursery beds are formed in well puddled field.
sowing  For planting one hectare, a nursery area of 800 m2 is required.
 The pre germinated seeds are broad casted uniformly over the bed with thin a
Course Teacher: Dr.S.SATHISH Seed Production Techniques in Varieties and Hybrids of
Rice

film of standing water and allowed them to settle in the soil.

 Drain off excess water.
Transplanting Age of transplanting

Varieties Age of seedlings

Short duration 18-22 days

Medium duration 25-30 days

Long duration 35-40 days

Seedlings are to be pulled out without damaging the roots. Transplant two to
three seedlings per hill at 2-3 cm depth.

MAIN FIELD

Land Land is puddled repeatedly to obtain fine tilth. Maintain water to a depth of 2.5 cm
Preparation

Varieties Spacing (cm)

Short duration 20 x 10
Spacing Medium duration 20 x 15
Long duration 20 x 20
Nutrient  FYM -12.5 tonns ha -1.
management

Dose ( Kg ha -1)

N P 2 O5 K2O

Short duration 125 40 40

Medium & 150 50 50

Long duration
Course Teacher: Dr.S.SATHISH Seed Production Techniques in Varieties and Hybrids of
Rice

Roguing  The off-type plants, weeds and diseased plants should be rogued out at
appropriate stage, preferably before flowering.
by Seed producer

First rouging Vegetative stage

Second rouging Flowering stage

Third rouging Preharvest stage

Field Inspection  Two inspections

Inspection Growth Stage Parameters
by Seed I & II Between flowering Off type plants not conforming to
certification officer to maturity varietal purity

Field Standards Foundation Certified

Off-types 0.05 0.20

Other crop plants - -
Objectionable weed plants 0.01 0.02
(Wild rice)

Harvest & Harvestable maturity : 90 % of seeds turn golden yellow with 17 -20 % mc.
Seed Extraction Manual / Mechanical threshing is done when seed moisture is between 15 and 18
per cent to minimize the mechanical injury.

Seeds are dried to optimum moisture content ie., 12 %

Seed Yield 2.5 to 3 mt ha -1

Course Teacher: Dr.S.SATHISH Seed Production Techniques in Varieties and Hybrids of
Rice

HYBRIDRICE

Tool/Hybrid Cytoplasmic genetic male sterility (CGMS)

techniques Three line breeding system

A- Male sterile line (CGMS line) (Female Parent)

B –Maintainer line (Male Parent)

R- Restorer line (Male Parent)

Climate & Soil Daily mean temperature of 24-30oC & 70-80 % RH. 8-10oC difference between
day and night temperature. Cross pollination through wind is the rule therefore,
adequate wind flow is a must.

Problems in 1. Nicking (ensuring synchronization of flowering)

Hybrid rice seed Hybrid rice seed production involves two different varieties as male and
production female parents, hence problem is faced in synchronization of flowering in
both parents.
2. Inadequate pollen supply:
Flowering period of male (6-8 days) and female (8-10 days) parent differs.
Therefore, pollen supply is not available for the entire flowering period of
female parent.
These problems are addressed through the following Management
Technologies
1. Staggered sowing of male and female parent
2. 2-3 staggered sowing of male parent
3. Appropriate planting methods
4. Nutrient management
5. Water management
3. Panicle exertion :
Wild abortive based CMS lines have imperfect panicle exertion ie., 10-15 %
spikelets remain enclosed within flag leaf . Therefore outcrossing is hindered.
Management Technology adopted:
1. Gibberellic acid spray @ 50 Kg ha-1 at 10-15% flowering stage and
another spray at 15 days later.
4. Outcrossing
Rice is a self pollinated crop (0.3-3 % out crossing). But out crossing aided by
wind is the rule for hybrid seed production.
Management Technology adopted:
1.Supplementary pollination by rope pulling or rod driving
Course Teacher: Dr.S.SATHISH Seed Production Techniques in Varieties and Hybrids of
Rice

Method of seed  Three steps

production A line (CMS) multiplication A x B line
B and R line multiplication Open pollination
Hybrid seed production A x R line

Steps in rice
hybrid seed Foundation seed A, B & R line multiplication
production Certified (Hybrid) seed A x R line

Isolation Foundation seed 200 m

Certified seed 100 m
Distance isolation

NURSERY

Nursery Prepare two separate nurseries for male and female parents. Form separate
preparation irrigation channels for male and female parents to avoid genetic contamination.

Seed rate Female line 20 kg ha -1

Male line 10 kg ha -1
Maintain 20 cm distance between female and male block.

Method of sowing Two separate nurseries for Female (A) and male (R) parents

Sparse sowing @ 25 g / m 2. Staggered sowing of female and male line and

within male line also.

Special Operation Staggering of female and male line

I
Sowing of male parent is taken up in three consecutive dates, at an interval of 3-4
days to attain synchronization of heading/ flowering.

MAIN FIELD
Spacing Male Parent (R line) 15 x 15 cm
Female Parent (A line) 15 x 15 cm
Between Female block and Male block 20 cm

Transplanting Simultaneous planting of female and male seedlings. Row direction –

perpendicular to wind direction. Age of transplanting 20- 25 days 2-3 seedlings
per hill at 2-3 cm depth. Planting ratio @ 8:2 (A: R)
Border rows – Four rows (Male lines are used for border rows)
Advantage of border rows: to supply of additional pollen and to prevent the
foreign pollen contamination
Course Teacher: Dr.S.SATHISH Seed Production Techniques in Varieties and Hybrids of
Rice

Special Operation Transplanting of R line

II Transplanting of R line is completed first. Pull out the seedlings of three different
ages, planted in three consecutive dates. Mix the seedlings thoroughly be
spreading over one another. Transplant the mixed seedlings in two paired rows
@ 15 cm spacing. Leave 145 cm wide block for transplanting A line and continue
planting of R line.

Transplanting of A line
Transplant 8 rows of A line in the 45 cm blocks , in between the 2 rows of R line.
Inter and intra row spacing is 15 x 15 cm Leave 20 cm spacing between A line
block and R line rows
Special Operation Prediction of heading date
III  It helps to plan for manipulation of flowering, for attaining synchronization.
 Observation should be made 30 days prior to flowering , at 3 days
interval in both parents.
Method
 Select the main tiller (longest tiller) and cut at the base where stem and
root intercept
 Make a longitudinal slit, just above the nodal portion.
 Use a magnifying lens and observe the presence of young panicle.
 If the panicle is very small ie., 1st - 3rd stage of development (totally 8
stages), synchronization of flowering will not be attained.
Special Operation Adjustment of flowering in late and early parent
IV Nutrient management
 Early Parent: Top dress with Urea @ 35 Kg ha-1 [OR] spray 20 Kg
dissolved in 500 litof water at 70 DAS (4th stage of panicle initiation)
 Late parent : Spray 2 % DAP
 This will help to correct a difference of 4-5 days in flowering between both
parents.
Water management
 R lines are more sensitive to water than A line (CMS line).
 If R line found to be early in flowering, the field may be drained to
maintain a semi dry ecosystem.
 If the R line is found to be late in flowering, the field may be irrigated to a
higher standing water level .
 This will help to correct a difference of 3-4 days in flowering between both
parents.
Special Operation Gibberelic acid application:50g/ha
V Gibberellic acid is known to stimulate the cell elongation. Therefore, it is sprayed
over the rice crop to
1. Enhance the panicle exertion.
2. Extend the duration of floret opening.
3. Increase the stigma exertion and stigma receptivity.
4. Improve the growth rate of secondary and tertiary tillers and increase their
Course Teacher: Dr.S.SATHISH Seed Production Techniques in Varieties and Hybrids of
Rice

productivity.
Details of application
 Optimum dosage is 45-60 g ha -1
 Optimum stage is 5-10 % panicle emergence stage.
Special Operation Supplementary Pollination
VI Methods
i) Rope pulling: Passing of rope across the plant population gently.
ii) Rod driving : Shaking of pollen parent with the help of two bamboo sticks.
Supplementary pollination should be done at the peak of anthesis ie., when 30 –
40 % of the spikelets are open. It is carried out for 5 times at 30 minutes interval
daily during anthesis period, both in the morning (10 - 12 AM) and evening (2 - 4
PM) for 7 - 10 days until no pollen remains on the male parent.
Rougeing by Seed Three rougeings between ‘heading’ and ‘dough’ stage. All offtypes in both male
producer and female rows. Remove the pollen shedders ( maintainer line) and semi sterile
plants present in CMS or A line

Field Inspection  Four inspections

Inspection Growth Stage Parameters
by Seed I Before flowering Isolation, volunteer plants, outcrosses,
certification officer planting ratio, border rows, etc.,
II & III Flowering Isolation, offtypes, pollen shedders etc.,
IV Maturity & before Offtypes
harvest
Field Standards Foundation Certified
Off-types in seed parent 0.05 0.20
Off-types in pollinator 0.05 0.20
Pollen shedding ear heads 0.05 0.10
Objectionable weed plants ( Wild rice ) 0.01 0.02

Harvest & Harvestable maturity : 90 % of seeds turn golden yellow with 17 -20 % moisture
content. Male and female parents should be harvested separately. The male
Seed Extraction plants are harvested first. Admixture of male and female line should be avoided
Seeds from female parent (A line) constitute the hybrid seed.

Seed Yield 5 to 15 quintals ha-1.

Course Teacher: Dr.S.SATHISH Seed Production Techniques in Varieties and Hybrids of
Rice

Seed Standards Foundation Certified

Pure seed (minimum) 98 % 98 %
Inert matter (maximum) 2.0 % 2.0 %
Other crop seed (maximum) 10/Kg 20/Kg
Other distinguishable varieties 10/kg 20/kg
(maximum)
Total weed seeds (maximum) 10/Kg 20/Kg
Objectionable weed seeds 2/Kg 5/Kg
Germination (minimum) 80 % 80 %
Moisture (minimum) 13.0 % 13.0 %