Under natural conditions we found a significant variation in oxygen evolution rate (OER) in flag leaves of different rice genotypes during the grain filling stage. Cv. Roxinho showed the highest OER [42 µmol(O2) m-2 s-1], followed by BRS Taim, BRS Pelota, BRS Bojuru, IR58025B, BRS 6 Chui, and BR-IRGA 409, with 37.0, 34.0, 33.0, 31.8, 29.0, 28.0, and 27.6 µmol(O2) m-2 s-1, respectively. The lack of fertility in the male-sterile rice line IR58025A prolonged the photosynthetic capacity by at least 15 d when compared to the normal fertility found in the IR58025B line. No difference was observed in OER among first (flag) and second leaves in both IR58025A and IR58025B rice lines. and M. A. Bacarin ... [et al.].