2016 Volume 60 Issue 1 Pages 40-47
Two Indonesian rice cultivars were examined for growth characteristics under several durations of submergence consisting of 0 (control), 3, 5, 7, and 10 days. Rice seedlings were first submerged into a 45 cm water depth and then the water level remained constant, allowing some parts of the leaves to appear from the water surface during the treatments which resembled the actual flash flooding conditions in the field. Results showed that the change of the relative growth rate (RGR) in both cultivars was more attributed to the net assimilation rate (NAR) alteration compared to the leaf area ratio (LAR). The relationship between NAR and specific leaf area (SLA) was also investigated resulting in a significant negative correlation between these two variables where NAR increased by the thickening of the leaf blade. 1R Dadahup then was found to show a higher ability to survive and grow during a longer periods of flash flooding, compared to Ciherang, based on the minimal sheath elongation under submergence and positive response in both SLA and the relative tillering rate (RTR).
