Red rice is considered a weed in white rice fields. Despite presenting features such as higher susceptibility to lodging and plant height, red rice genotypes with traits similar to white rice cultivars have already been observed. The aim of this study was to compare morphological and agronomic traits of red rice genotypes (Vermelho Pequeno and Vermelho Virgínia) and white rice cultivars (BRS Primavera and Caiapó) under upland crop conditions. An experiment was conducted in randomized blocks design, with five replications, in Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, from November 2009 to March 2010. The Vermelho Virgínia genotype showed higher plant height and lower length x grain width ratio, while the Vermelho Pequeno genotype presented the lowest one thousand spikelets weight. The red rice genotypes showed a higher yield for viable panicles and no significant differences (p > 0.05) in relation to white rice cultivars, concerning percentage of fertile spikelets per panicle and grain yield, revealing their agronomic potential for upland crop conditions.
Oryza sativa L; yield; morphological traits
