Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, Uttar Pradesh.
1Present address: Deptt. of Genetics and Plant Breeding, BN College of Agriculture (AAU), Biswanath Chariali, Assam 784176.
Pigmentation pattern in 142 Ahu rice genotypes/varieties of Assam showed wide range of variation in colour of 14 plant parts. Out of 142 entries 125 was pigmented in one or more parts while 17 were completely nonpigmented. Frequency of genotypes/varieties with pigmented plant part was highest for pericarp (70.42%) followed by lemma-palea at maturity (61.27%) and apiculus (33.0%). Pigmentation in leaf blade, collar, ligule and auricle was observed in very few cases. Coefficient of variation for colour was highest for apiculus (80.63%) followed by lemma-palea at maturity (75.78%), stigma (59.79) and nodal septum (58.69%). The genotypes/varieties were classified into 47 groups based on the number of parts pigmented. Correlation studies among the pigmented plant parts revealed significant and positive association of basal leaf sheath colour with colour of sheath pulvinus, clum internode, nodal septum, ligule, sterile lemma, apiculus and stigma. Positive and significant correlation of sheath pulvinus was also observed with culm internode, apiculus, stigma and lemma-palea at maturity. Except collar and paricarp colour all other plant parts were positively significantly correlated with clum internode colour. Apiculus colour was positively and correlated with all other parts under study except leaf blade, collar and lemma-palea at anthesis. Apiculus, lemma-palea at maturity and pericarp colour were positively and significantly correlated with each other.
Ahu Rice, Pigmentation, Plant Parts
