PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SEED HEALTH TESTING OF RICE SEED (ORYZA SATIVA L.) GROWN IN THE DALOA AREA (COTE DIVOIRE)

A survey was realized during the period of June, 2021 to August, 2022 in Daloa, Cote dIvoire to understand the rice cultivation practices. Then rice seed samples were collected to perform their health and quality, Dry inspection and blotter tests. Eight varieties of rice were collected, of which Wita 9, BkeAmlre and C15 are mainly grown under both rainfed and irrigated lowland. The water content of the rice seed samples collected fluctuated between 9 and 10 % showing that the farmers have a good command of post-harvest activities. the inert matter up to 56% and weed seeds in a mixture up to 9.47 % were found in rice seed samples collected. Although, these seeds showed good germination capacity with an average rate of 90%, among the seedlings having emerged, some presented color anomalies of the stem, collar and cotyledons ranging from 3 to 46%. The rotten grains (1.25 - 11%) invaded by molds and hard grains that remained intact (0.65 - 4%) throughout the test were found. Ten seed-borne fungi were detected from these seed samples. Some of the identified fungi could be associated with seedling abnormalities and grain rots during the germination.