Production of Hybrid Rice seeds using environment sensitive genic male sterile (EGMS) and basmati rice lines in Kenya

Photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterile rice (PGMS) lines IR-73827-23-76-15-7 S, IR-75589-31-27-8-33S referred to as P1 and P2, and IR-77271-42-25-4-36S, thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) line referred to as T were obtained from International Rice research Institute. These lines, collectively known as environment genic male sterile lines, were sown under greenhouse growth conditions where temperatures were more than 34°C with an objective of inducing complete male gamete sterility in them. Results indicated that high temperature growth conditions induces complete male gamete sterility in both the PGMS and TGMS lines. The impact of this is that, it will be possible to produce pure basmati hybrid rice seed in the tropical regions without contamination with pure breed lines. The male sterile PGMS/TGMS were pollinated with pollen from basmati370 and 217 grown under natural conditions and some hybrid seeds were obtained. This shows that high temperature emasculated the male gametes but not female ones. The conclusion is that it is possible to induce complete male gamete sterility in PGMS and TGMS under greenhouse in tropical growth conditions, and to produce hybrid rice seeds. This makes basmati hybrid rice seed production in Kenya a viable venture.