TITLE:
Agromorphological and Participatory Evaluation of Aromatic Rice Lines in Burkina Faso
AUTHORS:
Lucien Kaboré, Valentin Stanislas Edgar Traoré, Christian Raoul Ouedraogo, Sang-Bok Lee, Mahamadou Sawadogo, Oumar Traoré
KEYWORDS:
Rice Genetic Diversity, Agromorphological Traits, Genotype × Environment Interaction, Yield Stability, Participatory Varietal Selection
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.17 No.4,
April
1,
2026
ABSTRACT: Rice is a major food crop in Burkina Faso but its productivity must increase to meet the growing demand. This study assessed agromorphological diversity, yield stability, and farmer preferences among aromatic rice lines using multi-year field evaluations and participatory approaches. Combined analysis of variance revealed highly significant effects of genotype, year, and genotype × year interaction for all quantitative traits, demonstrating substantial genetic variability and differential genotype responses across environments. Grain yield ranged from 4.94 to 9.70 t ha−1, with an overall mean of 7.34 t ha−1, while key agromorphological traits such as phenological cycles, plant height, panicle number, and grain characteristics exhibited wide variation among genotypes. AMMI analysis showed that the first two interaction principal component axes explained 99.2% of the genotype × environment interaction, indicating predominantly structured interaction patterns. The WAASB index enabled the identification of genotypes combining high productivity and broad adaptation. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships among yield components, while PCA identified phenology, grain morphology, and plant architecture as the main drivers of genotypic differentiation. Qualitative trait analysis revealed morphological diversity and allowed the identification of three distinct clusters primarily differentiated by architectural traits such as flag leaf attitude, panicle orientation, and awn presence. Participatory varietal selection further indicated that farmers prioritized productivity, panicle number, early maturity, and grain characteristics, with no significant differences between men and women. Overall, the integration of agromorphological characterization, multivariate analyses, stability assessment, and farmer participation provides a comprehensive framework for identifying rice lines that are high-yielding, stable, and aligned with farmer preferences, thereby enhancing the potential for successful varietal adoption.