Central Rainfed Upland Rice Research Station, Post Box 48, Hazaribag 825 301 (Bihar).
Present address:1 National Research Centre on Rapeseed-Mustard, Sewar, Bharatpur 321001 (Rajasthan).
Proper evaluation of germplasm is a pre-requisite for its effecient utilization. A vigorous programme of evaluation of traditional cultivars and land races for yield, qualtiy and major biotic stresses has been underway since 1986 and many useful accessions were indentified. The present paper discusses the current status of quality evaluation programme. From 1988–96, three hundred and eighty four accessions were evaluated for 12 quality traits. In general, low variability (CV %) was recorded for hulling, milling recovery, volume expansion, amylose content, kernel breadth, cooked kernal length, and kernel linear elongation, Alkali value exhibited the highest variabilitity (CV 32%) followed by rice recovery (21.5%). Variation for grain size (kernel length) and shape (L: B ratio) and water uptake was moderate (CV head-10-18%). The grouping of accessions is also presented. The potential accessions for various quality traits and accessions possessing multible desirable traits are also listed.
Oryza sativa L, quality, rainfed rice, genetic resources
