MALE GAMETOCIDAL EFFECT OF SYNTHETIC DETERGENT IN RICE

Abstract

AKS (Kh 95) 1 rice (Oryza sativa· L.) strain was transplanted in 8 plots, with a spacing of 20 cm between plots during kharif, 1996. Each plot had 3 m long 3 rows having 20 x 15 cm spacing. All recommended cultural practices were followed for raising a good crop. Four aquous concentrations of Nirma synthetic detergent (Nirma Chemicals Works Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad) (3, 4, 5 and 6%, wIv) were sprayed on rice plants at tillering (47 days before date of 50% heading) and initial booting (19 days before date of 50% heading) stage in separate plots. Spraying was done under clear, sunny and hot day. Randomly selected 10 plants of the middle row of each plot were used for the spraying. Randomly selected one spike per sprayed plant was covered with a spider thin paper bag before its emergence. After physiological maturity all the bagged spikes were harvested and threshed in bulk separately for each treatment spraying for estimating spikelet sterility (%). Randomly selected 10 open-pollinated (unbagged) spikes per treatment/spraying (one spike/treated plant) were used for estimating seed set (%) in natural open- pollination.