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Table 1 Key characteristics of rice varieties released in Kenya

From: The importance of market signals in crop varietal development: lessons from Komboka rice variety

Variety

Advantage

Disadvantage

Year released

Other details/Owner

IR05N221 (Komboka)

This is a medium slender shiny white grain variety, semi-aromatic, translucent (low chalkiness), high yield of up to 6.5–7 t/ha, many grains per panicle (195), medium feeder and responds well to nutrient, highly palatable(soft, separate and non-sticky grain texture when cooked, high tillering capacity of 30–35,high milling recovery at 68.34%,easy to thresh at 58% moderately tolerant to bacterial blight, Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV), brown spot, sheath rot and rice blast disease, tolerant to submergence, salinity and drought. Adapted to both rainfed lowland and irrigated ecosystems, intermediate plant height thus less susceptible to lodging, very uniform flowering and maturity with 100% exertion

It is not tolerant to cold and salt conditions

2013

Owned by KALRO (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization) and IRRI (International Rice Research Centre)

Medium maturity variety a range of 110–120 days at maximum height of 90–120 cm

Basmati 370 (NIBAM 11)

Aromatic, slender grains and translucent (soft separate and non-sticky grain texture upon cooking), High ratoonability, it is not a high feeder (high amount of Nitrogen leads to lodging)

Susceptible to blast and lodges

Late 1990s

Owned by NIA (National Irrigation Authority)

Mean yield of 4.6 mt/ha hence comparatively higher yields than NIBAM 10. High ratoonability. Medium maturity variety a range of 120–130 days at maximum height of 120 cm

Basmati 217 (NIBAM 10)

Stronger aromatic than Basmati 370, slender shiny grains and translucent (separate when cooking), good milling ability, not a high feeder. Irrigated variety

Lodges and susceptible to blast

Early 1970’s

Owned by NIA

Mean yield is 4.5 mt/ha. Medium maturity variety a range of 115–120 days at maximum height of 120 cm

BW 196 (NIBAM 109)

High yielding, thick grains, Japonica grain type, non-aromatic, high tillering ability (up to 40 tillers)

Tolerant to rice blast

High feeder and late maturing, susceptible to RYMV. Glutinous (sticky when cooked)

2010

Owned by NIA

Short structured- 90 cm. Late maturing variety of 140–150 days. Mean yield of about 8 t/ha

Nerica 1(WAB450-I-B-P-38-HB)

Early maturing (95–100 days), Medium resistance to blast and RYMV, Suitable for upland conditions

Poor threshability

2008

Owned by KALRO

Plant height: 90–100 cm, Tillers: 15–20, Yield: 4.5 t/ha

Nerica 4(WAB450-I-B-P-91-HB)

Maturity: 95–100 days, Non-aromatic

Upland

Poor threshabiliy

2008

Owned by KALRO

Plant height: 120 cm, Yield: 5 t/ha

Nerica 10 (WAB450-11–1-1-P41-HB)

Medium maturity, Non-aromatic, for upland ecology

Poor threshability

2008

Owned by KALRO

Plant height: 100 CM, Days to maturity: 90–100 days, Yield: 6 t/ha

Nerica 11(WAB450-16-2-BL2-BL2-DV1)

Non-aromatic

Resistant to blast

For upland environment

Poor threshability

2008

Owned by KALRO

Plant height: 105 cm, Maturity: 75–85 days, Yield: 7 t/ha

TXD 306 (SARO5)

This is a slender long shiny white grain variety, Aromatic, medium maturity variety, not a high feeder and responds well to nutrient, tillering capacity of 25–30, Non- sticky, Good milling abilty, White brown grains, Easy to thresh, moderately tolerant to Rice Yellow Mottle Virus and Rice Blast disease

 

2013

Owned by KALRO

Mean yield of 4.5–6 t/ha. Medium maturity variety a range of 120–130 days at maximum height of 80–100 cm

Duorado precoce

Tolerant to blast, rice yellow mottle virus and bacterial leaf blight

Can be grown in Upland ecologies

Good cooking qualities

Late maturing and lodges

2013

 

NIBAM 110 (ITA 310)

Slender long shiny white grain variety. Has basmati characteristics but no aroma. Medium feeder and responds well to nutrients. Tolerant to RYMV. Non sticky, good milling ability, easy threshability

 

2010

Owned by NIA

Mean yield of 3–5 t/ha. It is a medium maturity variety a range of 120–130 days at maximum height of 95 cm

NIBAM 108 (IR2793-80-1)

Less amylose content than BW196 (translucent grains) but thick grains

Resistant to blast and RYMV

High yielding and high tillering

High feeder

2010

Plant height of about 80 cm. Non-aromatic. It is a late maturing variety of approximately 140–150 days. It yield ranges from is 8 t/ha

ARIZE TEJ GOLD

Long slender high quality grain, Slight-aromatic, High yielding yield is 7–8 mt/ha, Good milling ability, Non chaffy, Highly tolerant bacterial leaf blight and moderately tolerant to Rice Blast disease, Resistant to lodging, It is a medium feeder and responds well to nutrient,Palatable and non-sticky, High tillering capacity of 50, Easy to thresh, Recommended ecological altitude zone of between 15 and 1700 m adapted to rainfed lowland and irrigated ecosystems

 

2014

Hybrid rice developed by BAYER in India

Mean yield of 7–8 t/ha. Medium maturing variety at 125–135 days (seed to seed). Good milling ability

ARIZE 6444 GOLD

This is a medium slender white grain variety. Slightly-aromatic. It mean yield is 7.5–9 mt/ha, Good milling ability, Non chaffy, Highly tolerant bacterial leaf blight and moderately tolerant to Rice Blast disease. It is a medium feeder and responds well to nutrient, Palatable and non-sticky, Easy to thresh, Slender grain shape, Recommended ecological altitude zone of between 15 and 1700 m adapted to rainfed lowland and irrigated ecosystems

 

2014

Hybrid rice seed developed by Bayer in India. This is medium slender white grain variety

Mean yield is 7.5–9 t/ha. Medium maturity of 135–145 (seed to seed). Good milling ability

Mwea irrigated rice (MWIR 2)

Non-aromatic, high tillering capacity of 20–25. Good milling ability, moderate tolerant bacterial blight, Rice Yellow Mottle Virus and Rice Blast disease. Adapted to rainfed lowland and irrigated ecosystems

Late maturing

2013

Owned by KALRO

Mean yield is 4–5 t/ha

Matures in 135–140 days at maximum height of 90-100 cm

Mwea upland rice (MWUR4)

Suitable for Rainfed Upland

High yield potential upto 9.0 t/ha. Tall and non-aromatic;

Tolerant to blast

 

2013

Owned by KALRO

AT054

Slender long grains that are translucent. High tillering ability. Suitable for both lowland and upland ecologies. Hybrid. Moderately tolerant to blast

 

2010

Owned by Afritec Seeds Ltd

Matures in 125 days

AT058(SC213)

Suitable for both lowland and upland ecologies. Hybrid. Moderately tolerant to blast

  

Owned by Afritec Seeds Ltd

Matures in 120 days

AFEXH001

Suitable for both lowland and upland ecologies. Hybrid. Moderately tolerant to blast

  

Owned by Afritec Seeds Ltd

Matures in 125 days

AFEXH004 (ATH741A)

Suitable for both lowland and upland ecologies. Hybrid. Moderately tolerant to blast

  

Owned by Afritec Seeds Ltd

Matures in 118 days

  1. Source(s)https://kephis.org/images/pdf files/UPDATED%202,020%20August%20NATIONAL%20VARIETY%20LIST1.pdf,https://www.kalro.org/sites/default/files/BBSRC-Varieties-Kenya-doc.pd