Awned and awnless Rice

[Mashegu]

I my current research, one of my objective is to transfer awn from a landrace to improved varieties. Thus this awn variety I call landrace not sure if that's the current. I just found growing along side farm fields as weed. Can I called wild Rice? Please 🙏 need help with this.

[Steph S]

Hi Mashegu, welcome to the forum.

Here in North America we are using "wild rice" to refer to Zizania species.

Your wild awned rice would likely be Oryza rufipogon, the wild relative of improved Oryza sativa species.

This is an interesting project!
I have grown some wheats that are awned or awnless, and I think the awns are helpful because they diffuse the sun when it's too hot.
You probably have many other useful traits in the landrace as well.

Best of luck with the project, we'd love to hear about it.

[Mashegu]

Thanks Sir, your response is resourceful. Will keep you posted.