Abstract
Colombian Rice Growers Federation germplasm collection stores an important genetic resource that must be widely explored in order to use it efficiently in national rice breeding program activities. The aim of this study was to strictly characterize the work collection accessions using 28 morphoagronomic descriptors, 14 qualitative and 14 quantitative. 192 genotypes and 4 elite lines used as controls were studied in a field trial conducted under an augmented block design. Field experiments were carried out between April and May 2015 in Monteria, Saldaña and Villavicencio. At each site, total experimental area was 1680 m2 defined by 224 plots of 7,5 m2 distributed in 8 blocks with 28 genotypes each one. Qualitative variables distribution revealed differences in their expression across environments, except rice white leaf virus at vegetative state (VHBVg) in Montería. Likewise, for each quantitative trait, comparative analysis between adjusted data with block effect for rice accesions and the best control genotype showed differences at each location. Accessions of the collection were identified with outstanding agronomic performance for physiological traits such as stem strength (FrTll), leaf senescence (SnHj), panicle excersión (ExPc), tillering ability (HbMc), vegetative vigor (VVg). Differences were also observed for variables related to yield and its components, such as grain yield (RnGr), total number of spikelets per panicle (NmEsPn), number of spikelets filled per panicle (NmEsLlPn), panicle length (LnPn) and weight of a thousand dried grains (PsMlGr), as well as for grain quality and appearance traits such as length (LnGr), grain width (AnGr) and amylose content (CnAm). Such materials are of special interest for potential use as parents for national and international breeding programs.