Characterisation of aromatic rice (Oryza sativa L.)germplasm and correlation between their agronomicand quality traits

Sarika Mathure • Asif Shaikh • N. Renuka •

Kantilal Wakte • Narendra Jawali •

Ratnakar Thengane • Altafhusain Nadaf

Received: 27 December 2009 / Accepted: 26 October 2010 / Published online: 3 November 2010

� Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

Abstract Eighty-eight aromatic cultivars collected

from Maharashtra state were assessed for determi-

nants of kernel quality (kernel size-shape, test weight

and aroma) and grain morphology such as awning,

lemma and palea characters, pubescence, colour of

sterile lemma and apiculus colour. We, report seven

cultivars—‘Girga’, ‘Kothmirsal’, ‘Kala bhat’, ‘Chi-

mansal’, ‘Jiri’, ‘Kalsal’ ‘Velchi’ and ‘Kali kumud’ as

indigenous to southern India. Of the 69 cultivars

characterized for agronomic traits 36 cultivars were

exquisite genotypes and possessed one or more

superior traits such as early flowering, dwarf stature,

higher number of productive tiller per plant; long

panicles; higher number of filled grains per panicle

and strong aroma. Variability in aromatic cultivars

was assessed on the basis of nine traits placed

aromatic rice cultivars in five clusters. Number of

cultivars in each cluster ranged from 1 to 33. 27

significant correlations were obtained in the physical,

agronomic and grain morphology traits. Aroma was

found to be negatively associated with days to 50%

flowering as well as with filled grains per panicle.

However, correlation between panicle length and

effective tillers with aroma was not observed.

Therefore, to increase the yield, improvement in

length of panicle and increasing number of produc-

tive tillers in medium or mild scented cultivars would

be the best strategy.

Keywords Aromatic rice landraces � Aroma �Agronomic and quality traits � Improvement

Introduction

Aromatic rice constitutes small but a special group of

rice, considered as of best quality. Majority of the

indigenous aromatic rice cultivars are small and

medium grained (Singh et al. 2000a). Himalayan

Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar of India are

the probable places of origin for aromatic rice. It is

estimated that India has over 70,000 accessions of

rice germplasm and with a sizable number of wild

forms still to be collected and conserved (Siddiq

1992). Since the time of civilization, thousands of

locally adapted aromatic rice genotypes have evolved

as a consequence of natural and human selection.

These landraces are the genetic reservoirs of useful

Electronic supplementary material The online version ofthis article (doi:10.1007/s10681-010-0294-9) containssupplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

S. Mathure � A. Shaikh � N. Renuka � K. Wakte �R. Thengane � A. Nadaf (&)

Department of Botany, University of Pune,

Pune 411007, India

e-mail: abnadaf@unipune.ernet.in

N. Jawali

Molecular Biology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research

Centre, Mumbai 400085, India

123

Euphytica (2011) 179:237–246

DOI 10.1007/s10681-010-0294-9

genes. The large scale spread of modern, high

yielding varieties has replaced the traditional varie-

ties especially in the irrigated rice ecosystem leading

to reduced genetic base and thus increased genetic

vulnerability. In past few decades, increase in share

of high yielding varieties and shrinkage in the area of

local varieties have been reported in India (Hore

2005; Patil and Patil 1994; Rana et al. 2009) as well

as in several other countries (Bhatti 1998; Chaudhary

et al. 2006; Itani 1993; Juma 1989). In view of

collecting the germplasm, a special drive was under-

taken for upland paddy varieties cultivated in Maha-

rashtra, Madhya Pradesh and five other states resulted

in collection of 1,938 cultivars. National Bureau of

Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, India

further augmented the collections during 1983–89 by

about 4,862 accessions. Parts of Maharashtra were

also explored during joint explorations led by Kihara

in the early 1960s and Watabe in the late 1960s and

early 1970s (Singh et al. 2000b). Even though all

these explorations have resulted in a large assembly

of aromatic rice cultivars maintained as working/

active collections/base collections at various gene

banks, majority of the accessions lack precise infor-

mation on important traits (Rana et al. 2009). Our

earlier studies involving some aromatic rice cultivars

from Maharashtra using molecular markers revealed

high genetic diversity (Mathure et al. 2010).

Aromatic rice varieties in general are tall statured,

possess fewer number of panicles, high stem weight,

lower yields and susceptible in lodging. Glaszmann

(1987) revealed that aromatic rice varieties fall into a

separate group from that of the typical indicas and

stated that these two groups are incompatible causing

inter-group hybrid sterility. Recently it is shown that

2-acetyl-1-pyrroline based fragrance in rice is due to

the presence of a non-functional Betaine aldehyde

dehydrogenase 2 (BADH2) (Bradbury et al. 2005,

2008). The non-functional BADH2 interferes in

pollen tube development and this could be the reason

for the low grain yield in aromatic varieties (Brad-

bury et al. 2008). Therefore, for improvement of

scented rice special strategy needs to be designed by

taking into consideration the correlation between the

factors that are contributing in total yield. In the

present study scented rice germplasm was collected

throughout Maharashtra state and characterized for

agronomic and quality traits to determine a strategy

for improvement of aromatic rice.

Materials and methods

Exploration and collection of aromatic

rice cultivars

Rice growing regions of Maharashtra state and

Belgaum Dist., Karnataka were surveyed in years

2005–2009 for aromatic rice cultivars. During this

period local farmers were enquired primarily about

native aromatic landraces. Based on this information,

fine grid survey was conducted in Konkan belt

(Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district),

West Maharashtra (Nashik, Ahamadnagar, Pune and

Kolhapur) and Vidharba (Bhandara, Chandrapur,

Gudchiroli, Gondia districts) for collection of culti-

vars. Fresh seed stocks for each cultivar were collected

from fields, farmer’s store, local market and threshing

floors. Along with this, farmer’s opinions about

peculiarities and shortcomings of the cultivars were

also recorded. Germplasm from research stations in

Maharashtra viz. Agricultural Rice Research Station,

Radhanagri, Dist. Kolhapur and Rice Research

Station, Shindewahi, Dist. Chandrapur was procured

to ascertain comprehensive collection. In addition,

Basmati rice types were procured from Indian Agri-

cultural Research Institute, New Delhi and National

seed corporation Ltd, New Delhi for comparative

analysis. The collected cultivars are conserved both at

University of Pune, Pune, Maharashtra and Karjat rice

research station field, Raigad, Maharashtra.

Characterization of germplasm for grain

morphology, quality and agronomic traits

Collected cultivars were assessed for grain morphol-

ogy, determinants of kernel quality (kernel size-shape,

test weight and aroma) and agronomic characters.

These cultivars were grown at Karjat rice research

station, Dist. Raigad, Maharashtra state for agronomic

assessment in Kharif (June–July) 2008 following the

routine practise keeping 20 9 15 cm spacing between

the two plants. Grain morphology of the cultivars such

as awning, awn colour, lemma and palea characters,

pubescence, colour of sterile lemma and apiculus

colour following the guidelines of IBPGR-IRRI Rice

Advisory Committee (1980) was recorded. Kernel

quality was determined using de-husked grains. Ker-

nels were classified on the basis of length (size) and for

L/B ratio (shape) following classification described by

238 Euphytica (2011) 179:237–246

123

Cruz and Khush (2004). Test weight was determined

in triplicate and utilised to determine quality class:

Coarse ([25 g), Medium (20–25 g) Fine (15–20 g)

and Superfine (\15 g). Aroma was detected by sniffing

and was scored as mild, medium and strong following

KOH based method (Nagaraju et al. 1991).

Out of the 88 cultivars from the collection 69 were

selected for analysing the agronomic traits. These included

cultivars belonging to different quality classes among

those procured from research stations/institutes as well as

all the cultivars collected from Maharashtra and Belgaum.

The agronomic traits included in the study were days to

50% flowering, plant height in cm, number of productive

tillers per plant at maturity, length of panicle and number

of filled grains per panicle. Days to 50% flowering was

measured from the date of sowing. Cultivars were

classified on the basis of plant height as-tall ([120 cm),

semi-dwarf (100–120 cm) and dwarf (\100 cm) stature.

All the analysis was carried out in replicates.

Data analysis

Data on agronomic traits were standardised as follows:

1: (trait value) \ (mean–SD), 2: (mean–SD) \ (trait

value) \ (mean), 3: (mean) \ (trait value) \ (mean

? SD), 4: (trait value) [ (mean ? SD). Characters

were coded according to Pleijel (1995) and utilised for

cluster analysis. Distance matrix among the accessions

under study was calculated using TREECON software

(version 1.3b) (Van de Peer and De Wachter 1993) by

Unweighted Pair Group with arithmetic Mean Anal-

ysis (UPGMA) method. Genetic distances within the

studied accessions were estimated following Nei and

Li (1979) method.

Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) for kernel length,

kernel breadth, l/b ratio, test weight, aroma, presence of

awn, days to 50% flowering, plant height, productive tillers

per plant, length of panicle, filled grains per panicle and

presence of pubescence on lemma palea were calculated

using SPSS software (Version 9, Chicago, USA).

Results and discussion

Exploration and collection of aromatic rice

cultivars

In western Maharashtra, Pune district possesses a good

number of aromatic rice cultivars (12) followed by

Kolhapur district (6) (Table 1). Traditional landraces

‘Basumati’ (also known as ‘Belgaum basmati’), ‘Kali

kumud’ and ‘Kumud’ were collected from in Belgaum

district, Karnataka. The cultivars ‘Girga’, ‘Kothmir-

sal’, ‘Kala bhat’, ‘Chimansal’, ‘Jiri’, ‘Kalsal’ and

‘Velchi’ are grown in Maharashtra and ‘Kali kumud’ in

Belgaum over generations by local farmers at foothills

in remote villages and are indigenous to these regions.

‘Ambemohar’, ‘Kamod’ and ‘Chinoor’ have been

traditionally grown in certain pockets of Maharashtra

(Nerkar et al. 2003). Our collection from Pune

and Kolhapur district includes four cultivars of

Ambemohar viz. ‘Ambemohar Ajra’, ‘Ambemohar

Pandhara’, ‘Ambemohar-Tambda’, and ‘Ambemohar’.

They exhibited variation in grain morphology and

quality traits. Along with these, three Chinoor types

viz. ‘Kate chinoor’, ‘Kondhekar chinoor’ and ‘Parabhani

chinoor’ collected from Chandrapur district are

reported for the first time. We could collect ‘Champa-

kali’, ‘Ghansal’, ‘Kamavatya’, ‘Khadkya’, ‘Lal bhat’,

‘Lal dodki’, ‘Raibhog’, ‘Tamsal’ and ‘Gham’ cultivars

known to grow in Maharashtra. Some of the cultivars

collected during study possessed unique features viz.

‘Velchi’ posses distinct aroma resembling cardamom,

‘Gham’ grows in brackish water areas and ‘Khadkya’

can grow in comparatively less amount of water.

Hanamaratti et al. (2008) have reported that ‘Belgaum

basmati’, ‘Champakali’ and ‘Kumud’ are grown in

Karnataka and have studied agronomy and drought

resistance in ‘Champakali’. However, details of these

cultivars were not described by them.

Surveys for aromatic rice cultivars revealed that the

majority of local cultivars had late maturity hence they

require prolonged and consistent water supply. The

localities from where local cultivars were obtained are

characterized by red, brown and laterite soils of high

rainfall areas (Dikshit 1986). The areas of aromatic rice

cultivation are based at the foothills and are character-

ised by comparatively lower temperature, typical soil

conditions and moisture which are ideal conditions for

development and retention of high aroma. Hence, these

areas can be taken as the niche areas for aromatic rice

cultivation. Even though these conditions are common

in Konkan region, only two cultivars are observed to be

grown in this region. Similarly, Bhandara district and

Gondia district are reported as rice bowls of Maharash-

tra (http://www.maharashtra.gov.in). During the survey

in this region, farmers revealed that cultivars such as

‘Jirvel’, ‘Nagmoti’ and ‘Hiranakhi’ which were grown a

Euphytica (2011) 179:237–246 239

123

few decades ago are out of cultivation. Genetic erosion

might be the major reason to replace these traditional

varieties by the high yielding rice varieties that are

provided by Government agencies. Patil and Patil

(1994) reported genetic erosion in North Konkan region

of Maharashtra. Despite the encroachment of high

yielding varieties, landraces like ‘Ambemohar’,

‘Ghansal’ have survived the onslaught of high yielding

varieties owing to their characteristic aroma, taste and

stability of yield in their niche areas. These fetch

15–20% high price than other varieties with high

demand in Pune and Mumbai markets. During the

study, we also came across various factors that are

influencing the quality and quantity of aroma. As

learnt from farmers, use of chemical fertilisers in

efforts to increase production instead of the traditional

farm yard manure was the major factor affecting

aroma. Similar observations were recorded by

Suwanarit et al. (1996) where they found that aroma

and other physico-chemical characters in ‘Khao Dawk

Mali 105’ were adversely affected by the applied

dosages of nitrogen.

Table 1 Details of the aromatic accessions and their localities of collection

Source/place

of collection

Type Name of cultivar

Maharashtra

Chandrapur Landrace Kate chinoor, Kondhekar chinoor, Parabhani chinoor

Gudhchiroli Hybrid Makarand

Kolhapur Landrace Ambemohar Ajra, Champakali, Ghansal, Girga, Kothmirsal

Hybrid Basmati

Ahmadnagar Landrace Kala bhat

Nashik Landrace Chimansal, Kamod

Hybrid Indrayani

Pune Landrace Ambemohar, Ambemohar Pandhara, Ambemohar-Tambda,

Jiri, Kalsal, Kamavatya, Khadkya, Lal bhat,

Lal dodki, Raibhog, Tamsal

Selection Ambemohar-157

Raigadh Landrace Gham

Thane Hybrid Pusa sugandha

Ratnagiri Landrace Velchi

Karnataka

Belgaum Landrace Basumati, Kali kumud, Kumud

Research station or Institutes

Agri. Rice research station,

Radhanagari, Kolhapur

Landrace Adamchini-B, Amritbhog, Bansphool-A, Bantaphool-A,

Barke bhat, Bela blue, Bishnubhog, Dhanprasad,

Dubrajsena, Durgabhog, Gatia, Jeeraphool, Jhilipanjari,

Kalakrishna, Kali kajari, Kanakjeer, Kothimbiri, Lalu,

Pakhe bhat, Parbhatjira, Rati bhog, Shrabanmasi,

Shyamjeer, Tulsiganthi, Tulsikanthi, Velkat, Vishnubhog

Selection RDN local, RDN scented

Hybrid Bhogavati, Pawana

Indian Agricultural Research

Institute, New Delhi

Landrace Taraori basmati

Selection Kalanamak-3119, Kalanamak-3131, Basmati 370

Hybrid CSR-30, Pusa sugandha 5, Pusa basmati, Super basmati

National seed corporation Ltd,

New Delhi

Hybrid Pusa basmati-1

Rice research station, Shindevahi,

Chandrapur

Landrace Acharmati, Badshahbhog, Chinikamini, Dubraj, Dusara, Elaichi,

Girija sambha, Gopalbhog, Jeera-sona, Kalajeera, Kalanamak,

Pim-pudi-basa, Shrikamal, Shrikant, Tulshiamrit, Tulshimanjula

240 Euphytica (2011) 179:237–246

123

Characterization of germplasm and assessment

of variability in aromatic germplasm

The grain morphology is depicted in Online Resource

1 and 2. Among 88 cultivars, 65 were awnless while

other varied in awn size (short awn-12 cultivars and

long awn-11 cultivars) and colour (straw-17 cultivars,

red-2 cultivars and black-4 cultivars). Lemma and

palea showed varied colouration as straw (62), golden

(5), red (6), brown (2) and black (13 cultivars).

Variation in colour of furrows (gold, brown and

purple) and spots (brown and purple) and pubescence

(53 cultivars) on lemma palea was recorded. The

sterile lemma varied in colouration viz. straw (54),

gold (5), red (9) and purple (20 cultivars). The

apiculus colour was varied as straw (43), red (3),

purple (3), brown (12) and black (27).

The grain morphology varied considerably in

cultivars procured from research stations/institutes

as well as in those collected from Maharashtra and

Belgaum (Fig. 1) with respect to awnness, colour and

size of awns, lemma and palea with presence or

absence of coloured furrows and spots, pubescence

and varied coloured apiculus and sterile lemma. Hien

et al. (2007) reported that in aromatic rice cultivars

from Asia morphological traits were useful for

preliminary evaluation and could be used as general

approach for assessing genetic diversity among

morphologically distinguishable aromatic rice culti-

vars. Considering the extent of variation in grain

morphology in the present collection, it can be used

for assessment of diversity. Patra and Dhua (2003)

reported less variation in morphological characters

among 120 accessions of upland rice collected from

Jaypore tract of Orissa.

The kernel length, a quality determinant, among

the cultivars revealed a major variation ranging from

3.6 mm (‘Durgabhog’) to 8.8 mm (‘Pusa sugandha

5’). Bold grains of ‘Kothimbiri’ recorded lowest (1.4)

l/b ratio value, while slender grains of ‘Pusa sugan-

dha 5’ exhibited highest l/b ratio (4.95). Test weight

of cultivars varied from 7.2 g (‘Girija sambha’ and

‘Gopalbhog’) to 26.1 g (‘Lal bhat’). The coefficient

of variation for kernel length, l/b ratio and test weight

was 22.75, 30.31 and 31.77 respectively. On the basis

of size, shape, quality and aroma the cultivars are

classified (Online Resource 3). The kernel size-shape

of cultivars ranged from short-bold (22), short-

medium (23) to medium–medium (22) category.

Landraces ‘Gham’ and ‘Basumati’ along with ‘Bas-

mati 370’ recorded long-slender grain type. Among

the cultivars, superfine (56) and fine (26) quality was

frequent than medium (3) and coarse (3). The aroma

score categorised 42 cultivars as medium, 28 mild

and 18 strongly aromatic. The strongly aromatic

cultivars contained 16 non-basmati types of which 13

(‘Acharmati’, ‘Chinikamini’, ‘Dusara’, ‘Girga’, ‘Kali

kumud’, ‘Raibhog’, ‘Ratibhog’, ‘Velchi’, ‘Chiman-

sal’, ‘Kala bhat’, ‘Kamavatya’, ‘Kamod’ and ‘Kha-

dkya’) were landraces. Two Basmati types (‘Basmati

370’ and ‘Taraori basmati’), two hybrids (‘Makarand’

and ‘Indrayani’) and ‘Ambemohar-157’ also recorded

strong aroma. All five Ambemohar cultivars exhib-

ited quality determinant based variation amongst

them s (Online Resource 3).

The agronomical characters for 69 cultivars are

depicted in Online Resource 4). The days to 50%

flowering varied from 67 days (‘Lalu’) to 119 days

(‘Gham’). Maximum number of the cultivars

recorded tall stature (51) followed by semi-dwarf

(14) and dwarf (4). ‘Gham’ was tallest (185.67 cm)

whereas, ‘Kali kajari’ (91.2 cm) was found shortest

in height. The average number of productive tillers

per plant varied from 4 in ‘Acharmati’ to 14.3 in

‘Velchi’. The average panicle length ranged from

20.8 cm (‘Lal dodki’) to 31.83 cm (‘Elaichi’). The

mean number of filled grains per panicle were

the least in ‘Lal dodki’ (65) and maximum in

‘Dubrajsena’ (333.5). As far as variation in the

agronomic traits is concerned, days to 50% flowering

recorded low variation (%CV = 11.63) and average

number of filled grains recorded highest variation

(%CV = 28.79).

The cluster analysis placed 69 aromatic rice

cultivars into five clusters (Fig. 2). Cluster one was

the largest cluster, which included 33 cultivars. This

cluster was characterized by short-bold and short-

medium grains of superfine quality with exception of

‘Dhanaprasad’ (medium-medium) and two fine grain

quality cultivars (‘Kothmirsal’ and ‘RDN scented’).

Within this cluster, five ‘Ambemohar’ cultivars were

segregated in three separate sub-clusters. The med-

ium bold grained ‘Bela blue’ occupied second cluster.

Eleven cultivars formed cluster three that included

cultivars possessing medium-medium and medium-

slender grains of superfine quality with the exception

of ‘Lal bhat’ and ‘Lal dodki’ (coarse quality). The

cluster 4 grouped 12 cultivars possessing medium

Euphytica (2011) 179:237–246 241

123

size and shape with fine quality along with one short

medium grained cultivar (‘Raibhog’). Basmati types

along with few non-basmati types formed 5th cluster.

In this cluster, long slender grained traditional

basmati along with non-basmati cultivars (‘Kali

kajari’, ‘Pawana’, ‘Gham’, ‘Basmati 370’, ‘Basumati’,

‘Indrayani’ and ‘Taraori basmati’) formed a separate

sub-cluster.

Fig. 1 Variation in grain morphology of some cultivars

242 Euphytica (2011) 179:237–246

123

The kernel size and shape, quality, aroma and

agronomic characters, segregated all cultivars except

‘Ghansal’ (Kolhapur) and ‘Kumud’ (Belgaum) indi-

cating a high degree of diversity in the germplasm

(Fig. 2). Cluster analysis based variability assessment

in rice is reported by several workers (Ghalain

(2006), Hien et al. (2007), Naik et al. (2006), Sarawgi

and Bhisne (2007) and Ratho (1984). Ratho (1984)

reported that clustering pattern did not follow the

geographical origin of a variety. We recorded the

similar trend in distribution of cultivars. Sarawgi and

Bhisne (2007) reported separation of ‘Kalanamak’,

‘Pim-pudi-basa’ from Basmati types, while ‘Basmati

370’ further separated from ‘Taraori basmati’ and

‘Pusa basmati-1’ on the basis of agro-morphological

and quality characters. In our studies, similar trend

Fig. 2 UPGMA cluster

diagram showing

relationship among 69

aromatic rice cultivars

Euphytica (2011) 179:237–246 243

123

was observed for ‘Kalanamak’ and ‘Pim-pudi-basa’.

Naik et al. (2006) revealed clustering pattern for 50

scented rice. In their studies ‘Badshahbhog’ and

‘Shrikamal’ grouped together while ‘Dubraj’, ‘Pusa

basmati-1’ and ‘Taraori basmati’ occupied separate

clusters, thus supports our finding. For higher vari-

ability breeding, parent selection based on wider

inter-cluster distances was suggested by Mishra et al.

(2003), Chaturvedi and Mourya (2005). The present

study provides guidelines for selection of parents

based on agronomic traits with special reference to

quality characters for further improvement.

Correlation among the traits

Pearson’s correlation coefficients for twelve traits

(Fig. 3) showed significantly positive association of

kernel length with l/b ratio and test weight, and

negative association with kernel breadth. The kernel

breadth showed positive association with test weight

and negative association with l/b ratio. The kernel l/b

ratio was found positively associated with test weight.

Among the agronomic traits, plant height exhibited

significantly positive correlation with length of panicle

and negative correlation with productive tillers per

plant and filled grains per panicle. The correlations

among few quality traits and agronomic traits were

also recorded. The kernel length exhibited signifi-

cantly positive correlation with productive tillers per

plant and was negatively correlated with filled grains

per panicle. The kernel breadth showed positive

correlation with plant height and negative correlation

with productive tillers per plant. The kernel l/b ratio

was found to be positively associated with productive

tillers per plant and negatively associated with plant

height filled grains per panicle. The test weight showed

negative correlation with filled grains per panicle. The

awnness correlated positively with kernel length,

kernel l/b ratio, test weight and with productive tillers

per plant and negatively with kernel breadth. The

pubescent palea and lemma had positive association

with kernel length, test weight and negative associa-

tion with plant height and panicle length. The aroma

was negatively associated with days to 50% flowering

and with filled grains per panicle. Similar correlations

were reported by other authors [Hussain et al. (1987),

Khatum et al. (2003), Krishna Veni and Shobha rani

(2006), Nadaf et al. (2006), Naik et al. (2005), (2004),

Rajamani et al. (2004), Kibria et al. (2008) and Yadav

et al. (2007)].

In our studies, increase in aroma correlated

negatively with filled grains per panicle. Kibria

et al. (2008) have also reported negative correlation

between aroma and filled grains per panicle as well as

yield. However grain yield showed positive correla-

tion with panicle length and productive tillers (Kibria

et al. 2008). Interestingly, as no correlation was

recorded between panicle length and productive

tillers with aroma, the best suitable strategy for

improvement of aromatic rice would be to increase

Fig. 3 Pearson’s

correlation coefficients

among aromatic rice

cultivars KL Kernel length,

KB kernel breadth, L/Bkernel length breadth ratio,

TW test weight, DTF days

to 50% flowering, PH plant

height, PTP Productive

tillers per plant, LP Length

of panicle, FGP filled

grains per panicle

244 Euphytica (2011) 179:237–246

123

the length of panicle and number of productive tillers

in medium or mild scented cultivars.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that Pune and Kolhapur districts

of Maharashtra are the niche areas for aromatic non-

basmati type landraces and represent good diversity

of aromatic rice germplasm. Our group has reported

genetic diversity among some of these cultivars

(Mathure et al. 2010) indicating that the cultivars can

effectively contribute to the gene pool of aromatic

rice cultivars. The cultivars assessed are superior in

panicle length, number of productive tillers, number

of filled grains and test weight hence; are a source of

valuable germplasm for breeding of high yielding

aromatic rice. The best suitable strategy for aromatic

rice breeding would be to improve the length of

panicle and to increase number of productive tillers in

medium or mild scented cultivars.

Acknowledgments The work has been carried out under the

financial assistance of University of Pune-Bhabha Atomic

Research Centre collaborative research program, University of

Pune, Pune and Department of Science and Technology, New

Delhi. The authors are thankful to the Assistant Director of

Research, Karjat rice research station, Karjat for providing

field facilities.

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