| Abstract: | Iron (Fe) toxicity is one of the major mineral disorders affecting rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in Madagascar. This study aimed at linking physiological and agronomic responses of diverse rice genotypes to Fe resistance mechanisms with different nutrient management practices. Twenty‐three local and exotic rice varieties were grown in Fe‐toxic soil in parallel greenhouse and field experiments and subjected to two treatments: (1) no fertilizer; (2) mineral and organic fertilizer application at recommended rates. Growth, straw and grain yield, symptom formation, and physiological responses including Fe uptake, root plaque formation, and lipid peroxidation were monitored. The application of fertilizer significantly decreased average shoot Fe concentrations partly due to Fe exclusion favored by enhanced root plaque formation. Visual symptoms negatively correlated with straw biomass in both experiments and grain yield in the greenhouse experiment, and positively correlated with lipid peroxidation. However, no plausible correlation occurred with grain yield in the field due to sterility in exotic varieties un‐adapted to local climate. Even though grain Fe concentrations were orders of magnitude lower than in vegetative tissue, some exotic varieties were significantly superior to local checks. Our results provide insight into management and genotype options for adapting rice to Fe toxicity under field conditions. |
