SELECTION OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L) VARIETIES FOR LOWLANDS RAIN-FED CONDITIONS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

摘要

Four rice (Orvza saliva L.) varieties, NR 1, NR 9, NR 15 and NR 16 were provisionally released in 2003 by the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) for the lowland areas ranging from 0-1200 meters altitude. They were selected on the basis ofgrain yield, eating quality and pest and disease resistance from the first season of trials. The varieties were tested by NARI for another two seasons at five different sites in the Madang and Morobe Province. The superior performance of the four NR varieties over the standard varieties TCS 10 and FB91 was confirmed in both seasons. The varieties NR 1, NR 9, NR 15 and NR 16 are recommended for final release to farmers in the Lowlands of PNG based on yield performance and taste.