Physiological and genetic improvement of lowland rice

Rice (Oryza sp.) is consumed every day by half of the world¿s population and is a staple food in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It constitutes a strategic food security crop of several countries in the SSA region. However, SSA experiences huge rice yield losses every year because of biotic stresses. Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV) disease, reported in Kenya 52 years ago, is a major biotic factor affecting rice production and continues to be an important viral disease in SSA. Strengthening rice varietal resilience to RYMV in Benin through the beneficial role of silicon and the genetic selection of intraspecific O. glaberrima lowland rice progenies was conducted to improve rice productivity in West Africa. I updated the geographical distribution of RYMV disease and accessed 102 rice farmer's perceptions on main rice production constraints in Benin. Later, I screened 79 improved aromatic and non-aromatic genotypes developed and introduced in Benin. These genotypes include the susceptible IR64 (O. sativa) and the resistant TOG5681 (O. glaberrima) as checks. Our results confirm O. glaberrima germplasm is an important source of resistance to RBe24 isolate of RYMV for breeding for resistance.