Department of Biochemistry aad Agricultural Chemistry, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785013.
Four local rice cultivars of Assam viz. Khaiaru, Lashmonbhog, Sorokfola and Kolisali were grown in pots during wet season and were exposed to three light conditions i.e. natural (average, 1450 µ. mol PAR m−1 s−1), low light (418 µ mol) and shade (175 µ mol) from the beginning of flowering till maturity. The shaded plants showed highest total chlorophyll (mg g−1) at 10 days after flowering but lowest chlorophyll a: b ratio. The grain starch content at harvest as well as grain yield were greatly reduced under both low light and shaded conditions, however, the grain protein content was not affected. Sorokfola accumulated the highest starch in its grain and the yield remained comparatively high in this cultivar even under low light, indicating its suitability for cultivation in low light condition of wet season.
