Abstract
This study aimed at evaluating the applicability of the panicle grasping method for evaluation of the shattering habit of rice. Seven Japanese cultivars, three that were hardly shattering, and one each that were moderately, slightly easily, easily, and very easily shattering were used. The shedding rate was determined by grasping three panicles in one hand for each plant. Each of the four evaluators tested 50 plants of each cultivar. From the frequency distribution of shedding rate, a confidence interval was decided. These data suggest that an individual test for the shattering habit by this method can distinguish the hardly-shattering type from the shattering type (moderately to very easily shattering) at 96% confidence level, although the grade of shattering habit can not be classified. Thus, this method may be useful only for selecting the plants with a hardly-shattering habit.
