Wild rice genetic resources of north-east India

The wild relatives of rice assume enough importance for rice improvement work especially when variability in cultivated rice is nearly exhausted for various stress characters. Genes from Oryza nivara incorporated in cultivated rice provide resistance to grassy stunt virus and blast disease. Similarly, 0. officinalis resistant to brown planthopper, white-backed planthopper and green leafhopper. Semi-aquatic O. rufipogon species may contribute genes for adaptation to the stagnant flooding and resistant to bacterial blight. Wild species have also provided CMS lines for hybrid rice production in China. In this paper, an attempt has been made to elucidate wild relatives of rice available in north-eastern part of India.