@article{fdi:010097638,
  title = {{V}ariability in drought sensitivity of upland rice varieties used in {M}adagascar's {C}entral {H}ighlands},
  author = {{R}andriantsoa, {T}. and {R}azafimbelo, {S}.{A}. and {C}astro {P}acheco, {S}.{A}. and {R}akotomalala, {J}. and {R}atsiatosika, {O}. and {B}ernard, {L}aetitia and {M}uller, {B}. and {B}lanchart, {E}ric},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n {M}adagascar's {C}entral {H}ighlands, 70% of farmers depend on upland rice ({O}ryza sativa {L}.) for their livelihoods. {H}owever, these agrosystems are increasingly exposed to drought due to erratic climate change effects and decreasing rainfall. {T}he objective of this study was to explore the variability in drought sensitivity of local upland rice varieties, which are characterised by low genetic diversity due to strong selection for cold tolerance and blast resistance. {A} greenhouse experiment was conducted, where five upland rice varieties commonly used by farmers, namely {C}hhomrong {D}han (the control variety), {FOFIFA} 173, {FOFIFA} 186, {FOFIFA} 200 and {FOFIFA} 201, were subjected to four soil water regimes, representing increasing levels of drought stress. {T}hese treatments included well-watered (control), rolling stage, drying stage and death stage. {R}esults showed that under each soil water regime, none of the tested varieties differed significantly from the control variety, {C}hhomrong {D}han, in terms of biomass production. {H}owever, {FOFIFA} 186 and {FOFIFA} 201 exhibited a 2-3 days delay in the onset of drought stress symptoms, and survived longer. {S}uch a delay represents a meaningful advantage in {M}adagascar's {C}entral {H}ighlands, where consecutive dry days are frequent at the beginning of the cropping season. {T}his response may reflect more conservative water-use strategies and/or greater physiological tolerance to drought. {H}owever, further studies are required to confirm the underlying mechanisms. {T}hese findings provide valuable insights for future research and breeding programmes aimed at improving the climate resilience of upland rice in {M}adagascar's {C}entral {H}ighlands.},
  keywords = {{MADAGASCAR}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}frican {C}rop {S}cience {J}ournal},
  volume = {33},
  numero = {4},
  pages = {507--520},
  ISSN = {1021-9730},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.4314/acsj.v33i4.9},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010097638},
}