The rank of the subtaxon name. The following abbreviations are allowed: ‘subsp.’ (for subspecies); ‘convar.’ (for convariety); ‘var.’ (for botanical variety); ‘f.’ (for form).

The infraspecific epithet of the scientific name (i.e. the epithet following the indication of the infraspecific rank in the name string).

Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) only. Stage: flowering to maturity. O. sativa is classified into two major cultivar groups, indica and japonica, based traditionally on morphological and grain characteristics. Other groups have also been recognized but since the variation in morphological features among cultivars is continuous, it is often difficult to make an accurate classification. Isozyme data and molecular data are generating new insights but are not entirely consistent with the morphological classifications (Glaszmann 1987); for example, it is quite common for accessions to be classified as indica by morphology but japonica by isozymes. Both systems are therefore provided here, although this may need to be revised as new information is obtained. The traditional morphological classification recognizes four major groups.

Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) only. From Glaszmann (1987).

Include here any previous identification other than the current name. Collecting number or newly assigned station names are frequently used as identifiers.

This field is used to add notes or to elaborate on descriptors with value ‘99’ or ‘999’ (= Other).

Name of the primary administrative subdivision of the country in which the sample was collected.

Name of the secondary administrative subdivision (within a province/state) of the country in which the sample was collected.

Type of sample collected. If different types of material were collected from the same source, each sample type should be designated with a unique collecting number and a corresponding unique accession number.

Name of the ethnic group of the donor of the sample or of the people living in the area of collecting.

Name given by farmer to crop, cultivar, landrace, clone or wild form. Use Unicode text to specify the name using the standard script of the local language. This serves as the definitive version of the name.

Specify local language and/or dialect of the name.

The preferred anglicized ASCII equivalent of the name in "Local vernacular name (local script, Unicode text)" (Note: in some of the richer scripts, more than one distinct name in "Local vernacular name (local script, Unicode text)" can be transliterated to the same ASCII text. Therefore, the anglicized form must not be treated as a unique name.)

If the name in "Local vernacular name (local script, Unicode text)" can be transliterated in more than one way, provide all commonly used transliterated variants of the form given in "Preferred transliterated local vernacular name (Roman script)", separated by semicolons. For example, if "Local vernacular name (local script, Unicode text)" is ‘ໄກ່ນ້ອຍ’, "Preferred transliterated local vernacular name (Roman script)" is ‘Kai Noi’ and "Alternative transliterated local vernacular names (Roman script)" would be ‘Kay Noi;Kay Noy;Kay Noy;KayNoi; KayNoy;KaiNoi;KayNoy’.

Provide a literal translation or an interpretation of the local vernacular name.

Describe briefly particular characteristics of the rice cultivar (e.g. popularity).

Describe farmers’ perceptions on hardiness of the cultivar in relation to main stresses.

Information on main associated biotic (pests and diseases) and abiotic (drought) stresses.

Was a herbarium specimen collected? If so, provide an identification number and indicate in which place (herbarium) the rice specimen was deposited, in descriptor 2.19, Collector’s notes.

Visual assessment of plants per hectare

Additional information recorded by the collector or any specific information on any state in any of the above descriptors.

State building, room, medium- and/or long-term storage.

Approximate amount of seeds of an accession in the genebank.

(See instructions in descriptor 2.4, Country of origin).

(See format under 2.8)

(See format under 2.9)

Environment in which characterization/evaluation was carried out

Environment in which characterization/evaluation was carried out

Give block, strip and/or row plot numbers as applicable.

Use descriptors 6.1.1 to 6.1.12 in section 6.

Description of the geomorphology of the immediate surroundings of the site (adapted from FAO 1990). (See Fig. 1)

Estimated slope of the site

Date when seeds were first moistened; this is the date of soaking for pre-soaked seed, or the date of sowing for dry seed sown onto a wet seedbed, or the date when rain or other moisture becomes available to seed sown dry on a dry seedbed.

(Wild species). Date on which the first flush of flowers is observed. It is specified either as the number of days from effective seeding date to first heading date (7.2.2.1) or as the date of effective seeding and date of first heading (7.2.1 and 7.2.2.2).

Date on which 80% of the plants are heading. It is specified either as the number of days from effective seeding date to main heading date (7.2.3.1) or as effective seeding date and main heading date (7.2.1 and 7.2.3.2).

Maturity is the date on which 80% of the grains on the panicles are fully ripened.

(Wild species). The completeness of plant growth in a growing season. Stage: after ratooning.

Observed in 6–7-day-old seedlings

Measured from the base of the shoot to the tip of the tallest leaf blade, to nearest cm. Average of 10 seedlings. Stage: 5-leaf stage, approximately 20 DAS2. Alternatively, Oryza sativa can be coded as follows:

Colour of the outer surface of the leaf sheath. Stage: late vegetative (IRRI)

Presence and intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the outer surface of the sheath on the penultimate leaf. Stage: late vegetative

Stage: late vegetative

Stage: late vegetative (IRRI)

Stage: late vegetative (IRRI)

(Cultivated species). Position of the tip of the blade relative to its base, scored on the leaf below the flag leaf. Stage: late vegetative prior to heading

Assess both visually and by touch, rubbing fingers over the leaf surface from the tip downwards. Stage: late vegetative.

(Wild species). Specify location of hairs present on the surface of the blade. Stage: late vegetative

(Wild species). Assess pubescence of leaf margins. Stage: late vegetative

Stage: late vegetative (IRRI)

Stage: late vegetative (IRRI)

Measured on five samples from base of collar to the tip of the ligule of the penultimate leaf, i.e. the leaf below the flag leaf. Stage: after anthesis

Different scoring systems are used for cultivated and wild species

Stage: late vegetative. See Fig. 2.

Stage: late vegetative. See Fig. 3

Stage: after anthesis.

(Wild species). Visual assessment using hand lens. Stage: after anthesis

Stage: late vegetative (IRRI)

Measure the penultimate leaf (i.e. highest leaf below the flag leaf) on the main culm, from the ligule to the tip of the blade, on five representative plants. Calculate average to nearest cm. Cultivated species: measure at early reproductive stage. Wild species: measure 7 days after anthesis. Alternatively, Oryza sativa can be coded as follows:

Measure at the widest portion of the penultimate leaf (i.e. highest leaf below the flag leaf) on the main culm on five representative plants. Calculate average to nearest cm. Cultivated species: measure at early reproductive stage. Wild species: measure 7 days after anthesis. Alternatively, Oryza sativa can be coded as follows:

Measure length of the flag leaf, from the ligule to the tip of the blade, on five representative plants. Calculate average to nearest cm. Stage: 7 days after anthesis

Measure width at the widest portion of the flag leaf on five representative plants. Calculate average to nearest cm. Stage: 7 days after anthesis

Measured near the collar. Angle of attachment between the flag leaf blade and the main panicle axis. Record the average of five samples. See Fig. 5. Cultivated species: score at anthesis. Wild species: score 7 days after anthesis

The estimated average angle of inclination of the base of the main culm from vertical. Stage: after flowering. See Fig. 4.

Prostrate cultivars only (i.e. with Culm habit = 9). Measured after flowering in conditions where culms have fallen flat due to receding water flow. The stems of cultivars with kneeing ability start to grow upright with 3 to 4 nodes and bear panicles.

Measured from ground level to the base of the panicle. Record the average of five actual measurements, to the nearest cm. Stage: cultivated species after flowering to maturity; wild species 7 days after anthesis. See Fig. 6. Alternatively, cultivated species can be coded as follows:

Recorded as the total number of grain-bearing and non-bearing tillers on five plants (see descriptor 5.6, Field spacing). Stage: after anthesis to near maturity. Can be coded as follows:

Measured as the outer diameter of basal portion of the main culm. Cultivated species: record average of three representative plants during flowering or at late reproductive stage. Wild species: record average of five plants at late reproductive stage. Alternatively, cultivated species can be coded as follows:

The presence and distribution of purple colour from anthocyanin, observed on the outer surface of the nodes on the culm. Stage: after flowering to near maturity (IRRI)

The underlying colour of the outer surface of the nodes on the culm, ignoring any anthocyanin colouration. Stage: after flowering to near maturity (IRRI)

The presence and distribution of purple colour from anthocyanin, observed on the outer surface of the internodes on the culm. Stage: near colouration maturity (IRRI)

The underlying colour of the outer surface of the internodes on the culm, ignoring any anthocyanin colouration. Stage: near maturity (IRRI)

Scored at maturity based on the observed degree of lodging.

Assessed by gently pushing the tillers back and forth at a distance of about 30 cm from the ground. This test gives some indication of stiffness and resilience. Stage: at harvest

(Cultivated species). Observed near the collar. Angle of attachment between the flag leaf blade and the main panicle axis. Record the average of five samples. Stage: maturity

Estimated by observing all leaves below the flag leaf for their retention of greenness. Stage: at harvest

(Wild species). Observe when plants are ready for harvest

Stage: at anthesis.

Observed at anthesis (between 0900 and 1400) using a hand lens (IRRI)

(Wild species). Record the average of five samples. Stage: at anthesis

(Wild species). Stage: at anthesis (IRRI)

Stage: after anthesis to hard dough stage (pre-ripening stage) (IRRI)

Stage: cultivated species after anthesis to hard dough stage (pre-ripening stage); wild species at anthesis (IRRI)

Stage: after anthesis to hard dough stage (pre-ripening stage)

Stage: flowering to maturity

The presence and distribution of awns along the panicle. Stage: flowering to maturity

Stage: after anthesis (IRRI)

Record the average length of 10 representative spikelets. Cultivated species: measure the longest awn. Stage: maturity Wild species: measure random awns. Stage: after anthesis Alternatively, cultivated species can be coded as follows:

(Wild species). Record the average width of 10 representative spikelets, at 1 cm from the apiculus of the spikelet. Stage: after anthesis

(Wild species). Stage: after anthesis

Recorded from 5 panicles on wild species only. The number of primary panicle branches attached to the basal whorl of the panicle. Stage: after anthesis

(Wild species). Record the average of five representative panicles when fully exserted.

(Wild species). Assess by rubbing fingers from the base towards the tip of the panicle axis. Stage: at full panicle exsertion

Record the number of panicles per plant (see descriptor 5.6, Field spacing). Stage: early ripening Alternatively, panicle number can be coded as follows:

(Wild species). Length of main axis of panicle measured from the panicle base to the tip. Record the average of five representative plants. Stage: 7 days after anthesis or upon full panicle exsertion

Stage: near maturity

The compactness of the panicle, classified according to its mode of branching, angle of primary branches, and spikelet density. See Fig. 7. Stage: cultivated species, near maturity; wild species, 7 days after anthesis

The abundance and distribution of spikelets borne on secondary branches of the panicle. Stage: near maturity. See Fig. 8.

Extent to which the panicle is exserted above the flag leaf sheath. Stage: near maturity. See Fig. 9.

Observed as the extent to which grains have shattered from the panicle. Stage: at maturity or harvest

(Cultivated species). Length of main axis of panicle measured from base to the tip. Record the average of five representative plants. Alternatively, lengths can be coded as follows:

(Cultivated species). Determined by grasping the panicle with the hand, applying a slight rolling pressure with the palm and fingers, and assessing the percentage of grains that are removed by the action.

Visual assessment of the presence and distribution of mature grains using hand lens.

(Cultivated species). Stage: after harvest

Record the average length of five spikelets. For spikelets with symmetrical sterile lemmas (i.e. sterile length the same on both sides), record the length here. For spikelets with asymmetrical sterile lemmas (i.e. sterile lemma on one side longer than that on the other), record here only the length of the shorter sterile lemma (see 7.5.11 for the longer sterile lemma). May be coded as:

(Only for spikelets with asymmetrical sterile lemmas). Record the average length of the longer sterile lemma on five spikelets. May be coded as:

(Wild species).

Observe five representative plants. (IRRI)

The abundance of well-developed spikelets as a percentage of the total number of spikelets on five representative panicles. May be coded as:

Measured as the distance from the base of the lowermost glume to the tip (apiculus) of the fertile lemma or palea, whichever is longer. On awned cultivars, measure to a point comparable to the tip of the apiculus (exclude the awn). Preferably, measure with calliper or photo-enlarger. Average of 10 representative grains.

Measured as the distance across the fertile lemma and palea at the widest point. Preferably, measure with calliper or photo-enlarger. Average of 10 representative grains.

(Wild species). Preferably, measure with a calliper or photo-enlarger. Average of 10 representative grains. Stage: after harvest

(Cultivated species). Random sample of 100 well-developed, whole grains, dried to 13% moisture content. Weigh on a precision balance.

(Wild species). (10-grain samples are taken because of the low seed production of wild rice.) Random sample of 10 well-developed, whole grains, dried to 13% moisture content. Weigh on a precision balance. Stage: post-harvest

By visual observation, two types of endosperm of polished rice are distinguishable. In glutinous rice, which does not have amylose, the endosperm appears a waxy white. In non-glutinous rice, which contains amylose, the endosperm appears cloudy and translucent.