Assessment of Phenotypic Stability and Yield Performance in Three-Line Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Hybrids Across Nigeria Agro-ecologies
Moses Terngu IGYUVE *
Value Seeds Limited, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Muhammad Liman MUHAMMAD
National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State, Nigeria and Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.
Muhammad BASHIR
National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State, Nigeria.
Raphael Shima VANGERVIHI
Value Seeds Limited, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Muhammad Awal YUSUF
Value Seeds Limited, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Ibrahim Garba MOHAMMED
National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State, Nigeria.
Sunkanmi Tokunbo GBADEYAN
National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in Nigeria faces significant challenges, with current average yields of 2.0 t/ha falling well below the global average of 4.5 t/ha. This study evaluated four hybrid rice genotypes (IR138867H, IR138840H, IR138982H and IR138758H) against three commercial checks (FARO 44, FARO 66, and FARO 68) across two contrasting agro-ecological zones in Nigeria. Using a randomized complete block design with three replications, key agronomic traits such as flowering time, plant height, panicle length, tiller number, maturity period, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield were assessed. Results indicated that plant height and panicle length were significantly influenced by environmental factors (P = .05). The hybrid IR138982H demonstrated superior performance with grain yields of 6.55 t/ha, representing a 22.91% yield advantage over the best commercial check (Faro 68). Significant (P = .05) difference in genotype-environment interactions were observed for flowering time, plant height, and grain yield, emphasizing the importance of location-specific hybrid deployment strategies. These findings have identified IR138982H as a promising hybrid candidate for improving rice productivity in Nigeria, supporting efforts to enhance domestic production and reduce import dependence.
Keywords: Grain yield, hybrid, Nigeria, rice, stability