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Highlights in BioScience
ISSN: 2682-4043
DOI:10.36462/H.BioSci.20217

Highlights in BioScience August 2020| Volume 3
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Research Article

Open Access

1 Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of
Agriculture, Halu Oleo University, Jl. HEA
Mokodompit, Kampus Bumi Tridharma,
Anduonohu, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi,
Indonesia.

2 Department of Agronomy and Horticulture,
Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural
University, Jl. Meranti, Darmaga Campus
16680, Indonesia.

3 Department of Soil Science and Land
Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor
Agricultural University, Jl. Meranti, 16680
Campus Darmaga, Bogor , Indonesia.

4 Center for Research and Development of
Biotechnology and Genetic Resources
(BB-Biogen), Jl. Tentara Pelajar No. 3 A
Cimanggu, Bogor, Indonesia.

Contacts of Authors

* To whom correspondence should be
addressed: La Ode Afa

Citation: Afa L, Purwoko BS, Junaedi A,
Haridjaja O, Dewi IS (2020). Growth and yield
of new hybrid rice in irrigated and rain-fed
lowlands. Highlights in BioScience Volume 3.
Article ID 20217.dio:10.36462/H.BioSci.20217

Received: June 6, 2020

Accepted: August 20, 2020

Published: August 31, 2020

Copyright: © 2020 Afa et al. This is an open
access article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the
original author and source are credited.

Data Availability Statement: All relevant data
are within the paper and supplementary
materials

Funding: The authors have no support or
funding to report.

Competing interests: The authors declare that
they have no competing interests.

Growth and yield of new hybrid rice in irrigated and
rain-fed lowlands

La Ode Afa1*, Bambang S. Purwoko2, A. Junaedi2, Oteng Haridjaja3 and
Iswari S. Dewi4

Abstract
Two experiments were conducted at (i) irrigated lowland, village of

Bojong, Cikembar, Sukabumi Sub-district, Indonesia, from November
2011 to February 2012, and (ii) rain-fed lowland, village of Sanca, Gantar
sub-district, Indramayu, Indonesia, from April to July 2012. The objective
of the experiment was to determine the yield of drought-tolerant hybrid
rice genotypes. A randomized block design with three replications was
used. The treatment consisted of 8 hybrid rice genotypes (BI485A/BP3,
BI485A/BP5, BI485A/BP10, BI485A/BP12, BI485A/BP15, BI599A/BP5,
BI599A/BP15 and BI665A/BP6) and 2 check varieties (Hipa 7 and
Ciherang) for the experiment in irrigated lowland, 4 hybrid genotypes
(BI485A/BP3, BI485A/BP12, BI485A/BP15 and BI599A/BP15) and 3
check varieties (Hipa 7, IR64 and Limboto) for the experiment in rain-fed
lowland. On irrigated lowland, all tested-genotypes produced grain yield
per hectare, which was not significantly different from the check varieties
Ciherang and HIPA 7. The yield of genotype BI485A/BP12,
BI485A/BP15 and BI559A/BP15 under irrigated lowland showed
non-significant different with check varieties Ciherang and Hipa 7, i.e 5.63,
6.87, and 6.30 tons ha-1, respectively. Genotype BI599A/BP15 under
severe drought rain-fed lowland yielded 0.90 tons of grain ha-1, whereas
Hipa 7 (hybrid variety, suitable for rain-fed lowland) and Limboto
(drought-tolerant check variety) reached 0.34 and 0.29 tons ha-1,
respectively. Genotype BI599A/BP15 is a new hybrid genotype that
potential for advanced development in rain-fed lowland and in irrigated
lowland with a high yield potential and quiet early-maturity age.

Keywords: yield, hybrid rice, irrigated lowland, rain-fed lowland.

Introduction
Hybrid rice is an alternative technology to increase rice productivity.

Research results in several tropical countries showed that hybrid rice had more
yield advantages than inbred rice with more than one ton per hectare [1]. One
component of the success of hybrid rice development is the availability of
excellent varieties that have high heterosis and can increase yield potential by
15-20% [1,2]. Experiments on the yield of hybrid rice from 1982 to 2011 showed
more advantages than inbred rice in terms of productivity of dry grain and age
[2,4,5]. The experiment is continuously conducted to improve rice production by
assembling high-yield potential, earlier mature and drought tolerant hybrid rice for
marginal land such as the rain-fed lowland. The new hybrid genotypes that
potential to be developed in the rain-fed areas have been identified through a series
of tests in a controlled environment. Tests using PEG 6000 and drought stress on
nutrients culture in seedling phase and in pot and simulation in the field have
successfully identified drought-tolerant hybrid rice genotypes, namely
BI485A/BP12, BI485A/BP15, and BI559A/BP15 genotypes [6,7].

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The genotypes need to be tested on in-situ conditions
(field test) to obtain hybrid rice genotypes with high yield
traits, both at an optimum and sub-optimum growing
environments. Testing in rain-fed and irrigated areas is
required to obtain good traits according to the conditions of
environment where they grow, so that the selection can be
performed on high yield potential genotypes, although
testing is conducted on a small scale.

Testing on a small scale is expected to be able to provide
information on preliminary yield of drought-tolerant hybrid
rice genotypes and potentially be developed in the rain-fed
lowland in a wider scale. The genotypes of rice should be
able to adapt and steady at any location in various seasons, so
that a genotype can be released as a superior cultivar [8-10].
The study aimed to determine the preliminary yield of new
rice hybrid in irrigated lowland and the current drought in the
rain-fed lowland.

Materials and Methods
The experiment growth and yield in irrigated lowland

was conducted in November 2011 to February 2012 in
irrigated lowland of Bojong, district Cikembar, Sukabumi,
West Java, Indonesia. The climate of the study site was
moderate with the average temperature of 18-32 0C and
precipitation ranged 1200-2200 mm year-1. The plant
materials used were 8 genotypes/varieties of new hybrid rice
i.e. BI485A/BP3, BI485A/BP5, BI485A/BP10, BI485A/B
P12, BI485A/BP15, BI599A/BP5, BI599A/BP15, BI665A/
BP6, and two check varieties i.e. Ciherang and Hipa 7. The
experiments used a randomized block design with three
replications.

Plot size as the unit of experiments was 2.0 m x 1.5 m, the
distance between the treatment plots was 50 cm, and between
blocks was 100 cm. Seedlings yielded from seedbed were
transplanted after at least 21 days, the seedlings were planted
with spacing of 25 cm x 25 cm, one seedling per hole.
Fertilizing used with 300 kg Urea, 125 kg SP-36, and 100 kg
KCl per hectare. All SP-36 and KCl fertilizers were given at
the time of planting; Urea was given three times at time of
planting, 4 weeks and 7 weeks after planting. The control of
pests and diseases was done optimally, while weeding was
done manually using a push weeder, three and five weeks
after planting. Irrigation was adjusted to the character of the
rice fields used. Irrigation on irrigated lowland was
maintained under optimum conditions during the growth
phase until harvest. The height of water on the plots was
adjusted to the growth phase of plant. The observation was
objected to five clumps of sample plants. Variables measured
were plant height, number of productive shoots, panicle
length, number of filled grains, total number of grains, the
percentage of filled grain, 1000 grain weight, grain weight
per hill, days to 50% flowering and 85% yellow harvesting
and grain yield per plot.

The experiment growth and yield in rain-fed lowland was
conducted from April to July 2012 on rain-fed lowland of

Sanca village, subdistrict Gantar, district Indramayu, West
Java, Indonesia. The climate in the study areas was hot
climate with average temperature of 32-35 °C and annual
rainfall ranged from 1000-2400 mm year-1.

The plant materials used were 4 genotypes/varieties of
new hybrid rice i.e. BI485A/BP3 (drought-sensitive
category), BI485A/BP12, BI485A/BP15, and BI599A/BP15
(drought-tolerant category based on the results of previous
studies), and 1 hybrid variety, namely HIPA 7
(released-varieties suitable for rain-fed lowland) and two
inbred varieties namely IR-64 (drought-sensitive check) and
Limboto (drought-tolerant check). The experiments used a
randomized block design with three replications. The soil
sample was taken to analyze its physical and chemical
properties, namely the determination of the water content of
the soil at field capacity (pF 2.54) and permanent wilting
point (pF 4.20) based on the method of pressure
plate/membrane apparatus [11]. The experimental plot size
of each treatment unit was 3.00 m x 1.75 m, the distance
between treatment plots was 50 cm, and inter-groups
distance was 100 cm. Seedlings yielded from seedbed were
transplanted after at least 21 days, the seedlings were planted
with spacing of 25 cm x 25 cm, one seedling per hole. The
observation was directed to five clumps of sample plants.
Variables measured were plant height, flag leaf length,
number of productive shoots, plant dry weight of the upper
part (biomass), 50% flowering-age, panicle length, number
of total grains, percentage of filled grains, grain weight per
hill and grain yield per plot.

Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and further
test Duncan's Multiple Range test (DMRT) the 0.05
probability level using SAS 9.1 software program.

Results and Discussion
Rainfall and soil moisture conditions

The average rainfall in the trial location of irrigated
lowland (Table 1) was considered to be sufficient for the rice
water requirement of > 200 mm/month [12].Thus, in-
adequacy of irrigation water can be supplied with the rainfall.
At well-ripening phase, the amount of rainfall was < 200 mm
and occurred only for eight days, which was sufficient
condition to accelerate the maturation of seeds and harvest
time.

Table 1: Average rainfall during the growth of hybrid rice in
irrigated lowland of Bojong village, Cikembar district,
Sukabumi, Indonesia.

Notes: a = the Board of Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics,
Geophysical Observatory in Pelabuhan Ratu, Sukabumi, Indonesia; b =
growing phase of rice varieties was 120 days [13].

Growing phase b CH
(mm) a

Rain
frequency
(days)

Availability

Planted-Primordial (60 days) 492.3 44.0 Sufficient
Flowering- Seeds Filling (30
days) 485.6 26.0 Sufficient

Seeds Ripening 218.8 11.0 Sufficient

Well-Ripening 166.0 8.0 Sufficient

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During the trial in rain-fed lowland, the distribution and
frequency of rainfall during the vegetative phase (planting
until the primordial) were at insufficient level, only 94.7 mm
and rain occurred only 7 days. Flowering to grain filling
phase was at a critical level of 0.6 mm and rain occurred only
1 day, whereas at well-ripening phase rain did not occur
(Table 2). The condition caused the plant experienced a
severe drought stress, which occurred in 2 weeks after
planting. Result of recorded soil moisture is presented in
Figure 1. Level of soil moisture in the field capacity was
38.6% and permanent wilting point was 26.9%.

Table 2: Average rainfall during the growth of hybrid rice in
the rain-fed lowland of Sanca Village, District Gantar,
Indramayu, Indonesia.

Notes: NR = no rain; a = direct measurement in the field , b = rice varieties
growth phase for 120 days [13].

0
5

10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45

28 33 36 39 43 53 56 58 61 67 73 79 106

After day plant

S
oi

l m
oi

st
ur

e..
   

(%
 v

ol
um

e)
   

In depth ±10 cm in depth  ±20 cm Average

Figure 1: Moisture of soil during the trail in rain-fed lowland
rice of Sanca Village, District Gantar, Indramayu, Indonesia,
from April to July in 2012.

Growth and yield
Results of analysis of variance experiment growth and

yield in irrigated lowland showed that variety treatment
significantly influenced variables of plant height, 50%
flowering age, panicle length, the total grain number, and
filled grain, the percentage of empty grains, and 1,000 grain
weight, while the variables of number of productive tillers,
grain weight per hill and grain yield per hectare were not
significantly influenced. Results of DMRT test on average
growth are presented in Table 3 and the average of yield
components and yield are presented in Table 4.

Table 3 shows that most genotypes tested had plant
height, which was not significantly different from check
varieties of Ciherang and HIPA 7, except for BI599A/BP15,
BI599A/BP5, and BI665A/BP6. Genotype BI599A/BP15
was the highest, which was not significantly different from
BI599A/BP5. Plant height is significantly associated with

lodging. IRRI assigned a standard for the height of new rice
type with 100 cm [14]. Ma et al. [15] confirmed that the ideal
crop with lodging resistance ranges from 115 to 120 cm.
Therefore, this genotype is an ideal genotype to be developed
in the rice field because the height character of the plant was
within the ideal prototype standard of lodging resistance.

Table 3: Growth components including plant height (PH),
number of productive tillers (NPT), flowering age at 50%
(FA), and harvest age (HA) of hybrid rice genotypes and
check varieties in irrigated lowland.

Notes: Figures followed by the same letter in each of the variables were not
significantly different by DMRT at α = 0.05.

The number of productive tillers among genotypes and
the check varieties showed no significant difference. The
average number of productive tillers ranged from 12 to 15
(Table 3). Peng et al. [16] stated that the low capacity of
tillers for transplanting were 8-10 productive tillers.
Furthermore, Peng et al. [17] reported that the super hybrid
rice in China had 200-250 productive tillers per m2 (12-15
tillers per hill at a distance of 25 cm x 25 cm). Genotypes
tested in this research had an average of productive tillers in
that range.

Average flowering age among genotypes was not
significantly different except for genotype BI665A/BP6 in
which the flowering time was 50% longer, but the flowering
time of this genotype was not significantly different from that
of check varieties, Ciherang and HIPA 7. Generally the
tested-genotypes were faster in flowering, i.e. 85.0-87.3 days
while flowering age of check varietiess Ciherang and Hipa7
were 92.3 and 90.3 days, respectively (Table 3). Age of
flowering strongly relates to the efficiency of the utilization
of water resources and nutrients because the phase of
vegetative growth is shorter. The shorter age of flowering
generally has good adaptability to drought by accelerating
the maturation of grain [18].

The average harvest age of the tested-genotypes was
significantly different from that of check varieties, except for
genotype BI485A/BP3 and BI665A/BP6. The average
harvest age of the tested-genotypes ranged from 115.0 to
121.0 days. In general, hybrid rice genotypes had
earlier-maturing age of 120 days than checks varieties (Table
3). Differences in environmental factors cause different plant
life cycle. Yoshida [13] stated that the difference in maturity
is mostly determined by the phase length of the vegetative
growth because the length of the reproductive phase and
ripening is not influenced by the environment.

Average of panicle length between genotypes and check
varieties was not significantly different. Panicle length of
genotypes ranged from 23.82 to 26.47 cm, while the check

Growing phase b CH
(mm) a

Rain
frequency
(days)

Availability

Planting-Primordial (60 days) 94.7 7.0 Insufficient
Flowering-Seeds Filling (30
days) 0.6 1.0 Severe

Seeds Ripening NR NR Severe

Well-Ripening NR NR Severe

Genotype PH
(cm) NPT FA

(days)
HA
(days)

BI485A/BP3 98.60 d 13.3 85.3 de 119.7 a

BI485A/BP5 101.80 cd 13.1 85.0 de 117.7 b

BI485A/BP10 101.33 d 13.0 86.3 cd 115.3 cd

BI485A/BP12 100.40 d 12.1 85.7 de 116.7 bc

BI485A/BP15 103.60 cd 14.8 84.7 e 115.0 d

BI599A/BP5 110.33 ab 12.9 87.3 c 118.0 b

BI599A/BP15 114.33 a 13.1 86.3 cd 117.7 b

BI665A/BP6 107.27 bc 11.9 91.7 ab 121.0 a

Ciherang 100.53 d 13.7 92.3 a 120.0 a

Hipa 7 100.87 d 12.5 90.3 b 120.3 a

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variety Ciherang was 23.7 cm and HIPA 7 was 25.35 cm
(Table 4). Panicle length generally correlates with the
number of grains per panicle. Zang et al. [19] confirmed that
large panicles with the huge number of grains per panicle can
increase the density of grain.

Table 4: Yield and yield components including panicle
length (PL), total grain number (TGN), filled grain number
(FGN), filled grain percentage (FGP), 1000 grain weight
(GW), grain weight per hill (GWH), and grain yield (GY) of
hybrid rice genotypes and check varieties in irrigated
lowland.

Notes: The numbers followed by the same letter for each variable were not
significantly different by DMRT at α = 0.05.

The grain number per panicle was significantly different
between genotypes. The average number of grains was high
in genotype BI665A/BP6 (219.2 grains) that was
significantly different from that of the check variety
Ciherang (153.0 grains) (Table 4). A relatively high number
of total grain on hybrid genotypes is as the implication of the
long panicles of hybrid rice genotypes [19].

The number of filled grains was significantly different
between genotypes and check varieties. Genotype
BI665A/BP6 yielded the highest number of filled grains,
followed by genotype BI485A/BP12, BI485A/BP15, and
BI599A/BP5 of 162.9, 153.6, 147.6, and 142.6 grains,
respectively, but was not significantly different from the
check variety HIPA 7 of 140.3 grains. The number of filled
grains of check variety Ciherang was only 125.8 grains
which was significantly different from genotypes
BI665A/BP6, BI485A/BP12, and BI485A/BP15, but not
significantly different from the other genotypes. The average
number of filled grains of hybrid genotypes ranged between
118.4-162.9 grains, while the check varieties Ciherang and
HIPA 7 had averages of 125.8 grains and 140.3 grains,
respectively (Table 4). Peng and Khush [20] stated that the
criterion for a higher yield was the number of grains per
panicle of about 150 grains.

The highest percentage of filled grains obtained in
genotype BI485A/BP12 of 88.5%, which was not
significantly different from those of BI485A/BP15,
BI599A/BP5, and check variety Ciherang i.e. 83.7, 82.7, and
82.1%, respectively. Genotype with the lowest percentage of
filled grains was BI665A/BP6 of 74.0% which was not
significantly different from genotypes BI485A/BP3,
BI485A/BP10, and check variety HIPA 7, i.e. of 74.4, 78.5,
and 71.8%, respectively (Table 4). The grain filling process
is determined by the source in supporting sink or due to the

aging process. The limited resources in supporting sink due
to the low accumulation of photosynthate or earlier aging
process will increase the empty grains percentage. Abdullah
et al. [21] reported that one of the causes of a void is the
imbalance between the sink and the source. Dry matter in the
leaves started to decrease in 10 days after seed filling, and
relatively large leaves play an important role in supplying
photosynthate to seeds [22].

The highest 1000 grain weight was obtained in genotype
BI599A/BP5 of 30.88 g, followed by genotype
BI599A/BP15, which was not significantly different from
those of genotype BI485A/BP10 and BI485A/BP12 i.e.
29.19 g and 29.26 g, respectively (Table 4). Ma et al. [15]
stated that trait of ideal plant had panicle with 1000 grain
weight of 28-30 g. A new type of rice with grain weight of
28-30 g, panicle length > 26 cm and lots of grains is a fair
size for sink to support high grain yield. Plants with a lot of
grains per panicle need much assimilate for grain filling, so it
should be supported by ideal leaf traits i.e. medium leaf
width, thick, slightly dropping, not rapidly aging and
medium age, as in genotype BI485A/BP12, BI485A/BP15,
BI599A/BP5, and BI599A/BP15.

The weight of grains per hill between genotypes and
check varieties were not significantly different. The weight
of grains per hill among genotypes ranged from 33.92-42.92
g, grain weight per hill of check variety Ciherang was 38.30 g
and 46.81 g for HIPA 7. The grain weight of the genotypes
when converted to yield ranged from 5.43 to 6.87 ton ha-1.
Genotype BI485A/BP15 had the highest grain yield of 42.92
g hill-1 or 6.87 tons ha-1 (Table 4). Virmani et al. [23]
suggested that important benchmark in the assembly of
hybrid rice is the yield comparison between hybrids and
check varieties. Genotype BI485A/BP3, BI485A/BP10,
BI485A/BP15, and BI599A/BP15, when compared to the
check variety Ciherang was likely to show an increase i.e. 7.2,
2.8, 12.1, 1.6, and 2.8 percent, respectively (Table 4).

An effective way to develop a lowland rice cultivar with
high yield potential in both the optimum and sub optimum
conditions (drought stress) is through direct selection that can
combine the selection in irrigated and rain-fed lowlands.
Therefore, a preliminary yield trial of drought-tolerant hybrid
genotypes was performed, which was potential to be
developed in the rain-fed areas.

Results of analysis of variance experiment growth and
yield in rain-fed lowland showed that the variety treatment
significantly influenced variables of plant height, flag leaf
length, weight of biomass, 50% flowering age, panicle length,
number of total grains, the percentage of filled grains, grain
weight per hill and yield per hectare, but had no significant
effect on the variables of productive tillers. Results of DMRT
test on the growth variables are presented in Table 5 and on
the yield components and the yield are presented in Table 6.

Table 5 shows that the tallest plant height was obtained
on genotype BI599A/BP15, which was not significantly
different from check variety Limboto, but significantly
different from the check varieties IR64 and HIPA 7.
Genotypes BI485A/BP3, BI485A/BP12, and BI485A/BP15
were not significantly different from the check varieties IR64
and HIPA 7, but significantly different from the check
variety Limboto. The low rainfall and rain frequency since
the vegetative phase strongly inhibited the growth of plant
height, that was only of 54.67 to 82.11 cm because cell
division was inhibited [24]. Consequently, due to drought

Genotype PL
(cm)

TG
(grain)

FGN
(grain)

FGP
(%)

GW
(g)

GWH
(g)

GW
(ton ha-1)

BI485A/BP3 24.88 180.9 bc 134.0 bcd 74.4 cd 28.98 c 41.13 6.5

BI485A/BP5 23.82 149.1 d 118.4d 79.7bc 28.93 cd 37.11 5.93

BI485A/BP10 24.54 161.7 cd 126.9 bcd 78.5bcd 29.19 bc 39.43 6.30

BI485A/BP12 25.15 173.7 bcd 153.6 ab 88.5 a 29.26 bc 35.25 5.63

BI485A/BP15 24.66 175.8 bcd 147.6 abc 83.7 ab 28.53 cde 42.92 6.87

BI599A/BP5 25.31 171.7 bcd 142.6 abcd 82.7 abc 30.88 a 38.94 6.23

BI599A/BP15 24.49 169.5 bcd 135.3 bcd 79.3 bc 29.86 b 39.40 6.30

BI665A/BP6 26.47 219.2 a 162.9 a 74.0 cd 28.59 cd 33.92 5.43

Ciherang 23.69 153.0 cd 125.8d 82.1 abc 28.16 de 38.30 6.13

Hipa 7 25.35 195.0 ab 140.3 abcd 71.8 d 27.99 e 46.81 7.50

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stress in rain-fed areas, the average plant height of genotypes
was lower than the standard height for a new type rice crop of
100 cm [14], and different with plant height on trial in
irrigated lowland. However, drought-tolerant genotypes
BI599A/BP15 could still achieve 82.11 cm in height, which
was relatively equal to check variety Limboto of 81.11 cm.
Samaullah and Darajat [25] stated that the limited supply of
water can suppress plant growth by 10-25 cm in a
drought-stress growing environment. Kumar et al. [26]
reported that at severe drought conditions, the decrease in
plant height on tolerant strains reached 6-12 cm, and on
sensitive strains reached 16-27cm.

Table 5: Growth components including plant height (PH),
number of productive tillers (NPT), flowering age (FA), and
total biomass (TB) of hybrid rice genotypes and check
varieties in rain-fed lowland.

Notes: The numbers followed the same letter for each variable were not
significantly different by DMRT test at α = 0.05.

The number of productive tillers did not
significantly differ among genotypes and check varieties.
The average number of productive tillers ranged from 10 to
13 (Table 5). This suggests that the formation and growth of
tillers were not affected by drought-stress. The genotypes
had an average of productive tillers that was suitable for
transplanting, i.e. 8-10 [16]. The shortest average flowering
-age was obtained in check variety Limboto, which was not
significantly different with genotypes BI599A/BP15,
BI485A/BP12, and HIPA 7. The longest average flowering
-age was obtained in genotype BI485A/BP3, which was not
significantly different from genotypes BI485A/BP15 and
check variety IR64 (Table 5). Flowering age is strongly
related to the efficiency of the utilization of water resources
and nutrients due to shorter vegetative growth phase. Shorter
flowering-age generally has good adaptability to drought and
is able to accelerate ripening of grains. Kumar et al. [26]
stated that in conditions of severe drought, tolerant strains
accelerated flowering by ± 8 days compared with sensitive
strains. Samaullah and Darajat [25] and Ahadiyat et al. [27]
reported that the earlier-flowering genotype with a little
number of empty grains in a water-stress environment has a
drought-tolerant trait. The lateness in flowering of genotypes
growing in drought-stress environment will shorten the grain
filling phase, which affects the yield.

The highest average total biomass (plant dry weight) was
obtained on genotype BI599A/BP15, which was not
significantly different from genotypes BI485A/BP12 and
BI485A/BP15, but significantly different from BI485A/BP3.
The genotypes with the highest plant dry weight had
relatively equal weights with check variety Limboto but
significantly different with check variety IR64 (Table 5).
Kumar et al. [26] stated that the total dry substance of
late-flowering genotypes gradually declines in drought stress
conditions. This indicates that the late-flowering plants may

stop early growing phase during the growth cycle causing the
dry weight decreases. Genotypes BI599A/BP15, BI485A/
BP12, and BI485A/BP15 had a relatively shorter flowering
-age, so that produced relatively higher dry weight in severe
drought conditions. Kumar et al. [28] reported that the
tolerant strains have the ability to maintain high biomass
production in dry soil and high harvest index.

Average of panicle length of hybrid genotypes and check
varieties HIPA 7 and Limboto was significantly different
from the check variety IR64. The IR64 has the lowest panicle
length of 17.9 cm, while the length panicle of genotypes
ranged from 20.9-21.8 cm (Table 6). Severe drought
conditions inhibited panicle length of check variety IR64,
which was sensitive to drought because the panicles exertion
was hampered. This lead some grains to stay in the leaf
midrib and become sterile grains, causing the decreasing of
grain yield [29]. Panicle length generally correlated
positively with the number of grains per panicle [19].

Total number of grains was fairly high on genotype
BI485A/BP3 but was not significantly different from
genotype BI599A/BP15, of 137.5 and 123.6 grains,
respectively. The number of total grains of the genotypes was
still lower than that of the check variety Limboto of 153.6
grains, but higher than those of the check varieties HIPA 7
and IR64, of 111.7 and 64.7 grains, respectively (Table 6).
The high total number of grains per panicle should be
supported by a sufficient source for better grain filling [30].

Table 6: Yield components and the yield including panicle
length (PL), total grain number of panicle (TGNP), filled
grain percentage (FGP), hill grain weight (HGW), and grain
yield (GY) of hybrid rice genotypes and check varieties in
rain-fed lowland.

Notes: The numbers followed the same letter for each variable were not
significantly different by DMRT test at α = 0.05.

In general, the percentage of filled grain of genotypes
was very low, ranging from 3.3 to 30.9 percent. Genotype
BI599A/BP15 had the highest percentage of filled grain of
30.9 percent which was not significantly different from
genotypes BI485A/BP12, BI485A/BP15 and HIPA 7, but
significantly different from genotypes BI485A/BP3, IR64
and Limboto. The lowest percentage of filled grain (3.3
percent) was achieved by genotype BI485A/BP3. The
percentage of filled grain of check varieties IR64 and
Limboto was relatively low, of 10.3 and 7.5 percent,
respectively (Table 6). A severe drought led to the source
being interrupted, thus the seed filling stage highly depended
on the nature and mechanisms of plants coping with the
drought stress. The higher percentage of filled grain on
genotype BI599A/BP15 was caused by the earlier-flowering
trait. Pantuwan et al. [31] stated that drought escape
mechanism of early-maturity genotypes with high yield in
long drought-stress conditions was possibly due to the
pre-anthesis assimilate contribution as a source of assimilates

Genotype PH
(cm) NPT FA

(days)
TB
(g)

BI485A/BP3 68.33bc 11.1 88a 27.38b

BI485A/BP12 67.44bc 11.6 83b 32.95ab

BI485A/BP15 64.56c 11.7 86ab 28.53ab

BI599A/BP15 82.11a 13.4 83b 34.67a

IR64 54.67c 12.9 85ab 19.07c

Limboto 81.11ab 9.8 82b 34.69a

Hipa 7 63.56c 10.4 83 b 26.77b

Genotype PL
(cm)

TGNP
(butir)

FGP
(%)

HGW
(g)

GY
(ton ha-1)

BI485A/BP3 21.43a 137.5ab 3.3b 0.54b 0.09 b

BI485A/BP12 20.89a 106.2cd 13.1ab 0.97b 0.16 b

BI485A/BP15 20.86a 100.5d 13.9ab 1.21b 0.19 b

BI599A/BP15 21.80a 123.6bc 30.9a 5.62a 0.90 a

IR64 17.78b 64.7e 10.3b 1.16b 0.19 b

Limboto 20.98a 153.6a 7.5b 1.79b 0.29 b

Hipa 7 21.16a 111.7cd 14.4ab 2.11ab 0.34 ab

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during the grain filling period. In severe drought conditions,
empty grains in CT9993 drought-tolerant strain reached 71
percent, while in IR62266 drought-sensitive strain reached
91 percent [28].

Grain weight of genotypes per hill ranged from 0:54 -
5.62 g per hill. A high percentage of filled grains led to a high
yield or grain weight per hill. Therefore, genotype
BI599A/BP15 had the highest grain weight of 5.62 g per hill
or 0.90 tons of grain yield per hectare which was not
significantly different from hybrid variety HIPA 7 but
significantly different from the other genotypes and check
varieties IR64 and Limboto. HIPA 7 was recommended to be
planted in rain-fed areas [32]. The lowest grain weight was
obtained on genotype BI485A/BP3 of 0:54 g per hill, but was
not significantly different from those of the three check
varieties and genotypes BI485A/BP12 and BI485A/BP15
(Table 6).

Grain yield obtained in genotype BI599A/BP15 was
equal to the grain yield obtained in strain CT9993, which is a
drought tolerant genotype when was grown in a severe
drought conditions in Raipur, Northeast region of India.
Strain CT9993 was only able to produce 0.95 tons per hectare
[28]. The difference in yield of genotype BI599A/BP15 and
other genotypes may be due to differences in the contribution
of pre-anthesis dry matter to seed production. The genotypes
had a relatively shorter flowering-age, thus, it produced a
higher dry weight in severe drought conditions (Table 5).
Therefore, early-ripening genotype BI599A/BP15 that was
able to reallocate reserved assimilates from the stem to the
seed under drought condition resulted in a high yield. This
mechanism involves rapid phenological development (early
flowering and early ripening) and pre-anthesis assimilates
remobilization [33].

Limboto is a drought-tolerant variety. During the
growing in the field in a severe drought conditions, Limboto
maintained a high level of leaf greenness but grain filling rate
was much lower than the genotypes BI599A/BP15 (Figure 2
and Table 6). Fukai and Cooper [34] confirmed that there are
four trait categories of drought resistance of rain-fed rice i.e.
drought escape, drought avoidance, drought tolerance and
drought recovery after a drought occurred. Fukai et al. [35]
stated that the maintenance of leaf greenness in drought
conditions is an example of the adaptation mechanisms of
drought tolerance of rain-fed rice. Drought escape is a
effective strategy to reduce the unfavorable effects of
drought that adjusts the availability of water with plant
phenology [36].

Thus, Limboto leaf greenness in severe drought
conditions in which rain only occurred the first two weeks
after planting indicated that Limboto variety is a drought
tolerant, whereas genotype BI599A/BP15 developed more
than one mechanism or adaptation strategies namely drought
escape and drought tolerance. In drought conditions,
genotype BI599A/BP15 was not only accelerated
flowering/harvest (Table 5) but also had a low density of
stomata and still maintained relative moisture of leaves at a
high level in drought conditions [37-39]. Mitra [33]
confirmed that plants often used more than one mechanism
for drought tolerance. Thus, genotype BI599A/BP15 was
able to produce better grain in drought conditions than other
genotypes.

Therefore the hybrid rice genotype that is potential for
further development in the rain-fed lowland and also in

irrigated lowland with high yield potential and early-maturity
age is genotype BI599A/BP15. Genotype BI599A/BP15 that
experienced drought stress, in the critical phase was capable
of producing 2.72 tons of grain per hectare, whereas IR64
produced only 1:42 tons per hectare of grain [37]. This offers
an opportunity that genotype BI599A/BP15 can be planted
under conditions of rainfall restriction but not continuous
drought during the vegetative to reproductive phase. On the
other hand, when an unpredictable severe drought occurred,
farmers can still obtain yields even though the productivity
was <1 ton per hectare (Table 6). These efforts can improve
cropping index in the rain-fed lowland.

Conclusion
Based on the condition of the field test, the following points
can be concluded:
1. On irrigated lowland, all tested-genotypes produced grain

weight per hill and grain yield per hectare, which was not
significantly different from the check varieties Ciherang
and HIPA 7.

2. Drought-tolerant genotypes BI485A/BP12, BI485A /BP15,
and BI559A/BP15, in irrigated lowland had equal yields
with that of variety Ciherang, of 5.63, 6.87 and 6.30 tons
per hectare, respectively.

3.Genotype BP599A/BP15, at a very severe drought
conditions in the rain-fed lowland, generally produced
better results than other genotypes for plant height,
productive tillers, flag leaf length, total biomass, panicle
length, filled grain percentage and grain weight per hill.

4.Genotype BP599A/BP15 at a very severe drought
conditions in the rain-fed lowland was able to produce
0.90 tons of grain per hectare, while HIPA 7 (hybrid
variety that had been released to the rain-fed lowland) and
Limboto (drought-tolerant check variety) produced only
0:34 and 0:29 tons per hectare, respectively.

5.Genotype BI599A/BP15 is a new hybrid genotype that
potential for advanced development in rain-fed lowland
and also in irrigated lowland with a high yield potential
and quiet early-maturity age.

Acknowledgments
Acknowledgement was submitted to the Agency for

Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture for funding
this research through KKP3T in fiscal year 2012 to Bambang
S. Purwoko and team.

Author Contributions
L. Afa conducted field experimental tests and data

analysis. B. S. Purwoko, A. Junaedi, O. Haridjaja and S. S.
Dewi formulated experimental design, helped in preparing
the draft of reports and made some correction on the
manuscript.

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