Abstract

Kailash Chandra Samal, Gyana Ranjan Rout, Satya Ranjan Das

The genus Oryza has 21 species of which Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima are the only cultivated species derived respectively from their perennial wild progenitors Oryza rufipogan and Oryza longistaminata. The diversification of O. sativa does not confined to these three sub-species only but develops into many more varietal groups through selection under diverse agroclimatic conditions, cultural practices and quality preferences. The present study implies that the divergences of 78 genotypes of aromatic rice including International check varieties, traditional Basumati and evolved Basumati on the basis of morphological, biochemical and genetical variations. The plant height among the genotypes ranged from 85.91cm to 159.67 cm whereas the panicles/plant ranged from 6.06 to 16.22 with the mean value of 9.56. The grain length is highest in all evolved Basmati genotypes followed by indigenous aromatic rice. The lowest grain length was found in ‘Jala’, ‘Magura’, ‘Ratnasundari’ and highest in ‘Kusumabhog’ and ‘Gatia’. The lowest grain breadth was recorded in eight genotypes. The alkali spreading value (ASV) varied from 2.0 (IR-64) to 6.17 (Jalaka) indicating very wide variability. The present investigation also highlighted the inter and intrapopulation diversity among 78 rice genotypes with a view to assess the potentials and consequences of onfarm management of rice landraces in traditional farming.