• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.412-419
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• 1988

Cold-induced sterility is a problem of rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in temperate regions and high elevation tropics. The present study was conducted to measure combining ability, determine character associations. and to evaluate effectiveness of F$_2$selection for tolerance to this type of cold injury. The F$_1$, F$_2$, F$_3$ and reciprocal backcross F$_1$ populations of a nine-parent diallel were grown at Davis, California. a relatively cool location for rice. Additive genetic variance was predominant but some non -additive genetic variance existed for cold tolerance. Good general combining ability (GCA) was generally associated with the cold tolerant parents, 'M-201', and 'L-201', and poor GCA with the most susceptible parent. 7703008. Sterility was positively correlated with late heading. negatively with mature plant height. and negatively with spikelet number. Of the three agronomic characters, heading date had the greatest influence on sterility. Selection of F$_2$'s in seven crosses involving M-101, the most cold-tolerant parent, was effective for increasing cold tolerance. Realized heritability estimates for cold tolerance averaged 0.53, and observed selection response for cold-induced sterility averaged -9.4 percentage points.