Evaluation of Root Characters Associated with Lodging Tolerance by Seedling Test in Rice

Rice seedling test was conducted to check the loging tolerance at ripening stage through evaluating the root characters. Thirteen Korean and foreign rice cultivars with direct seeding adaptable or high quality characteristics were grown in a cell pot and under submerged paddy. The root characters and pushing resistance of rice hill were determined at seedling and ripening stage, respectively. The diameter of crown root at the 7th and 8th leaf stages was thicker in lodging tolerance cultivars than those of others and showed significant-positive correlation with both pushing resistance and crown root diameter of mature plants. Also, the tensile strength of crown root at the 7th and 8th leaf stage showed highly positive correlation with the tensile strength of crown root of mature plants. The number of crown root at 7th leaf stage was significant-positively correlated with that of mature plant. The diameter of seminal root was not significantly correlated with the diameter of crown root throughout the whole growth stage. These results indicate that the diameter, tensile strength and number of crown root associated with root lodging tolerance can be detected with the seedling at about 7th or 8th leaf stage, and the seedling test using the cell pot is an useful and practical method to select lodging tolerant cultivars or lines of rice based on root characters, especially diameter of crown root.