Six African rice varieties, two each from three types having the characteristics of partially, irregularly, and completely developed abscission layers, were selected and grown 1） to investi-gate the histological differences during the formation and development of the abscission layers and 2） to evaluate the changes in the breaking tensile strength required to detach a grain from its pedicel dur-ing ripening period in relation with developmental stage of the abscission layers. In African rice, the panicle and spikelet grew rapidly from 15 days before heading and almost completely grown in length at five days before heading. The abscission regions were recognized at 15 days before heading. However, any apparently developed abscission layers were not recognized in the lemma side for partially developed abscission layers. A group of parenchymatous cells could be observed sporadically in the abscission layers of the lemma side for irregularly developed ab-scission layers. At ten days before heading, abscission layers consisting of one or two layers of parenchymatous cells were clearly distinguished from neighboring cells due to thickened and lignified cell walls. There were a number of individual parenchymatous cells scattered sporadically in the lemma side of partially developed abscission layers, and a number of grouped parenchymatous cells scattered randomly in the lemma side of irregularly developed abscission layers. At two weeks after heading, the grains became almost fully filled. The cracking of abscission layers between rachilla and pedicel was observed, and the breaking tensile strength required to detach a grain from its pedicel was as low as that at harvest time.