1Department of Plant Physiology, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand (263 145), India
2Department of Biochemistry, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand (263 145), India
3Seed Technology Division, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 002), India
*Correspondence to E-mail: hukumsingh97@yahoo.com
Online published on 31 March, 2014.
The paper assesses the effect of dissimilar nitrogen levels on chlorophyll a, b, a/b, a+b and carotenoids content in assorted rice genotypes growing in field situation. The experiment was conducted throughout kharif season in 2008 and 2009. Five rice genotypes specifically KRH-2, Vasumati, Kasturi, Tulsi and Krishna Hamsa were taken as investigational material and urea was taken as a nitrogen source. The pigments content were anticipated at the instance of active tillering (AT) and flowering stage (FS). The pigments value was increased simultaneously with N levels and highest value was calculated at AT than FS. Chlorophyll a/b was increased after AT stage. Chlorophyll a was recorded higher for KRH-2 (AT) and Kasturi (FS), lower for Tulsi (AT) and Vasumati (FS). Chlorophyll b content was recorded greatest for Tulsi (AT) and Kasturi (FS) while minimum for Krishna Hamsa (AT) and Vasumati (FS). The upper limit of Chlorophyll a/b content was considered for Krishna Hamsa and Vasumati at AT and FS, although lower limit for Kasturi at same stage. Chlorophyll a+b content was calculated uppermost for KRH-2 (AT) and Kasturi (FS) whereas lowermost for Vasumati at both stages. Carotenoids contents were also drastically increased up to topmost N level and upper limit was recorded for KRH-2 and slighter for Vasumati at identical stage.
Chlorophyll, carotenoids, nitrogen, active tillering stage
