ARS | Publication request: APPLYING THE RICE GROWTH STAGING SYSTEM TO RESEARCH

Submitted to: Rice Technical Working Group Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 24, 2002
Publication Date: March 10, 2002
Citation: Counce, P.A., Keisling, P.A., Mitchell, A.J., Bryant, R.J., Costello, T.A. 2002. Applying the rice growth staging system to research [abstract]. Rice Technical Working Group Meeting Proceedings. p.12.

Technical Abstract: The objective rice growth staging system has been developed to allow extension personnel, educators, researchers and rice producers to communicate more meaningfully about their rice. The basis of the system is objective morphological markers for determining the stage of development for a particular rice plant. The staging system is divided into three main phases of development: seedling, vegetative, and reproductive. Seedling development consists of four growth stages: uuimbibed seed, radicle and coleoptile emergence from the seed and prophyll emergence from the coleoptile. Vegetative development consists of several stages related to the final number of leaves with collars on the main stem. Reproductive development consists of 10 growth stages based on discrete morphological criteria. Applying the growth staging system to research will ordinarily involve tagging a sample of plants and keeping notes on those particular plants throughout their development. Subsequently, leaves on main stems of tagged plants are numbered with a black marker and data of collar formation is noted in an experimental notebook. Consequently, the stage of development for a particular treatment, pesticide and application or environmental condition can be noted. By keeping records of growth stages, the value of experimental results can be increased because growers can apply research results more effectively and precisely.