Abstract

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate and breed rice varieties for their yield ability and tolerance to biotic stresses, major abiotic of lowland ecologies in Benin and Togo.

Method The plant material consisted of 1901 interspecific and intraspecific lines. The integration resistance test results (DITER) developed by NOTTEGHEM (1977) were used for this research. Individuals from different lineages were multiplied to form the seedling plots. The measured parameters focused on: Sowing cycle (SC), Height at maturity (Hm), Tillering (T30 and T60), drought, iron toxicity, dead hearts, and leaf blast. Data were taken on ten plants from each of the Disjunct Lines (DL) in Benin and Togo. The use of descriptive rating scales from the Standard Evaluation System for Rice (SES) developed by IRRI (2010) was used during this research.

Key Results: Families from crossings WAB 638-1 x TOG 5681, WAB 638-1 x NERICAL35 TOG 7442 x NERICA- L41, TOG 5681 x NERICA-L41, TOG 5681 x NERICA-L42 and belonging to O. glaberrima x O. sativa, O. sativa x interspecific, O. glaberrima x O. interspecific, interspecific x O. glaberrima showed good behavior with respect to biotic and abiotic stresses and have a good Sowing Cycle (<120jas) and a very good tillering (20-50Talles) in both Benin and Togo.

Conclusion: They therefore have a very good adaptability to the agro-ecological conditions of Benin (low slope) and Togo (minor bed).

Keywords: Lines; Breeding; Stress; Rice; Benin; Togo