One of the factors hindering the development of upland rice cultivation among annual crops is the limited number of shade-tolerant upland rice varieties. It is very important to assemble shade-tolerant upland rice varieties with high yields. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of shade on the growth and productivity of five genotypes of upland rice. This research was carried out in the experimental garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, the Islamic University of North Sumatra with an altitude of 25 m above sea level, from June to December 2020. The research design was split-plot and repeated three times. The main plot of shade treatment consisted of two levels, namely no shade (0%) and shade treatment (70%). The sub-plots were seven rice genotypes consisted of five upland rice in Deli Serdang and two shade-tolerant varieties. Shade treatment affected the growth and productivity of five genotypes of upland rice in Deli Serdang District (Sialus, Arias, Ramos Merah, Silayur, and Sirabut) and two shadetolerant varieties (Rindang 1 and 2). Two genotypes of upland rice were obtained, namely Silayur and Sirabut which were more shade tolerant, based on flowering age, harvest age, and grain weight per clump. When compared with Rindang 1 and 2 varieties, the two genotypes of upland rice were the same or more tolerant.

Regency of Deli Serdang in the Province of Sumatera Utara has high diversity of landrace rice that has adapted to various climatic and edaphic condition including drought. Studies on various local rice genotypes tolerant to drought is of important to be carried out. This will help plant breeders with germplasms for future breeding program. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a water-soluble compound with high osmotic pressure and unlikely to have specific interaction with biological chemicals. With these properties, PEG is often be used in studies of plant response to drought stress. The experiment reported here was aimed at determining rice genotypes, local to Regency of Deli Serdang, tolerant to drought. The experiment was carried out at Laboratory of Physiology and Glass House of Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara, Medan from February to April 2020. A two-way factorial experiment was assigned in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 replicates. The first factor was 23 local rice genotypes plus 4 genotypes tolerant to drought and the second factor was the concentration of PEG 6000 i. e 0 and 20% (w/v). Observations included percent of germination, plant height, length and number of roots protruding from paraffin-wax layer, leaf chlorophyll content, seedling fresh and dry weight, index of tolerance, probability of resistance, and proline content. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance and mean separation of DNMRT at 5%. Results demonstrated that 6 local rice genotypes, Gemuruh, Ramos Merah, Arias, Sialus, Silayur, and Sirabut were resistant to drought stress under the experimental condition.

Abstract. Chaniago N, Suliansyah I, Chaniago I, Rozen N. 2021. Morphological characteristics of local rice in Deli Serdang District, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 883-894. The preservation of local rice is essential to preventing genetic drain. In Deli Serdang District, North Sumatra, Indonesia, local rice is in great abundance. A total of 23 Deli Serdang local rice were collected and studied from coastal to highland areas. This study aims to determine the morphological characteristics of 23 local rice genotypes of Deli Serdang and to obtain superior characters to be developed into superior local varieties. A completely randomized design with three replicates was used in this study. Morphological characteristics of 23 local rice genotypes obtained various characters. The culm length was short to very long; culm diameter was thin to thick; the leaf-blade length was long to very long; leaf-blade width was intermediate to broad; culm number was low to high. The auricle, ligule, and collar were almost completely whitish, except for Sijambi yellowish-green and green, 2-cleft acute ligule shape. The harvest age was medium to deep. The grains were white, straw, gold, brown, brown spots, brown lines, and black. The pericarps were white, light brown, red, and black. Most of the organs indicated broad genetic variability having the opportunity to be developed into superior local varieties. All local rice was scattered into five groups based on morphological markers with a similarity of 32.12%.