DUS characterization of Tamil Nadu traditional rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties

Twenty-seven landraces of rice (Oryza sativa L.), collected from different parts of Tamil Nadu, were characterised according to the DUS guidelines of the Plant Varieties Protection and Farmers’ Rights Authority, GOI.

Rice accessions were planted with three replications using the randomized block design (RBD) in 2019 at the Plant Breeding Farm, Department of Genetics and plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University.

Observations were recorded on 49 different agro-morphological traits, out of 49 descriptors analysed, six were monomorphic, seventeen were dimorphic, thirteen were trimorphic, seven were tetramorphic and spikelet: density pubescence of lemma, 1000 grain weight of fully developed grains and decorticated grain colour showed five expressive states and lemma and palea colour reported six expressive states. Contemporary research work will be advantageous for breeders to choose the right parent for crop improvement and the researchers for genetic diversity among landraces.