Tamil Nadu Agricultural University breeding New Idly Rice Varieties

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University breeding New Idly Rice Varieties

Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is developing new idly rice varieties. Researches for developing new varieties. Researches for developing new varieties of idly rice are at advanced stages in the TNAU farms, says TNAU Vice-Chancellor C Ramaswamy and director, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics T S Raveendran.

The scientist at the university are looking for high-yielding variety with better resistance to pest and diseases to replace the traditional varieties.

The popular among the traditional idly rice varieties 1009 and ASD 16. CR 1009 yields more than 6.5 the tones per hectare while the latter, 6 tonnes per hectare.

Currently, reaches on two, three varieties to replace the traditional idly rice at an advanced stage in the university farms. These new varieties will be ready for release in another three years.

Lately, TNAU is also focusing on drought-resistant rice varieties particularly forseeing a grim water situation in the near future.

As part of the ongoing researches, a new rice culture, evolved by the TNAU has been confirmed to be a drought – tolerant, high-yielding variety after various stages of testing involving the farmers. This variety would be officially launched next year.

The new variety is capable of yielding 3.7 tonnes per hectare and is found to be suitable for rainfed areas of Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai districts. The local land rice traditionally used by the farmers yield less than 2 tonnes per hectare.

Out of the 30 hybird rice varieties released in the country so far. TNAU has released four. These hybrid varieties yield more than 7.2 tonnes per hectare and under better management conditions they may even yield 10 tonnes. There are several success stories of these hybrid varieties and there is also a great demand among the farmers, says associate professor S Robin.

TNAU is also into researchers for developing super hybrid rice and these researches are in the initial stages.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University breeding New Idly Rice Varieties

Related Web Pages

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University breeding New Idly Rice Varieties |  TNAU |  Centre Plant Breeding Genetics |  Rice Varieties |  Hybrid Varieties | 

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