Characterisation of navara (Oryza sativa L.) a traditional medicinal rice of Kerala for qualitative traits

Navara-a traditional medicinal rice cultivar of Kerala is used widely in Ayurveda as an effective remedy for rheumatic complaints and to revitalize the body. Present study was conducted to characterize this rice cultivar based on morphological features. Detailed characterization of navara germplasm collected from various parts of Kerala reveals that there are many different morphotypes with respect to qualitative traits. Different groups could be identified based on vegetative, panicle and grain characters. The seven entries evaluated could be grouped in to three clusters by hierarchical cluster analysis.