Varietal Characterization Rice Varieties Based on Chemical Methods

The investigations were carried out to study the varietal characterization on fifteen elite rice varieties through various chemical testsviz., Phenol, Modified Phenol, KOH, NaOH, FeSO₄ and GA₃ (based on seedling response) tests. Among fifteen ricevarieties only white ponni gave negative response in phenol test and Modified Phenol test. The chemical tests such as potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide were found to be useful for its examination of the red rice from white rice. Seedling response to gibberllic acid tests were also found to be useful in identifying the rice varieties. Based on cluster analysis at 1.66 coefficient level, four clusters were formed (cluster I, cluster II, cluster III and cluster IV). Cluster III had one variety (TKM 9) which is separated based on potassium hydroxide (KOH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) test and both are mainly used for identification of red seed varieties. Cluster IV had one variety (White Ponni) based on phenol and modified phenol test where it gave negative response. Cluster I consisted of 4 cultivars (ADT 36, Co 48, Co 50 and MDU 5). ADT 36 and Co 48 had 100 percent similarity and Co 50 and MDU 5 also showed higher similarity percentage. Cluster II consisted of eight cultivars. It was again subdivided into two groups, A and B. A had two varieties and separated fromA at 1.03 coefficient level, each showed 100% similarity (ADT 39 and ADT 45). B group was again subdivided into two groups B1 and B2. B1 possessed four varieties, all showed 100% similarity and B2 had two varieties, which also had 100% similarity.