Red rice (Oryza sativa) biology.: I.: Characterization of red rice ecotypes

Plant characteristics of red rice ecotypes obtained from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including 11 strawhulled, five blackhulled, two goldhulled, and one brownhulled type, were evaluated under field conditions. Most ecotypes were uniform and stable but manifested considerable genetic variability. Red rice plants had pubescent leaves, were taller with lighter green color, and produced more tillers and panicles per plant than rice cultivars 'Lemont,' 'Mars,' and 'Maybelle.' Most ecotypes were highly susceptible to seed shattering starting about 14 d after anthesis when seed moisture was more than 25%. Seeds of most ecotypes were highly dormant at harvest. Rice cultivars had a larger flag leaf and more total leaf area per plant at anthesis and produced more seeds per panicle than red rice. Some red rice ecotypes had plant characteristics closely related to cultivated rice suggesting natural hybridization with rice.