'Kuthiru' and 'Orkayama' – Newly Identified Genetic Resources from Kerala, India for Salinity Tolerance in Indica Rice

Existence of genetic variability for salt tolerance within species is of paramount importance in crop improvement program. Pokkali land race of Kerala, India is the international donor parent of most of the salinity tolerance breeding programs in rice. Here we report two new genetic resources, ‘Kuthiru’ and ‘Orkayama’ for salinity tolerance, from Kaipad saline tracts of Kerala. They differ in their morphological, physico-chemical characteristics and cooking qualities. Panicles of these cultivars are long with bold grains. Duration of ‘Kuthiru’ is 110 -120 days, and that of ‘Orkayama’ is 135 -140 days. Molecular analysis revealed that the salinity tolerance mechanism of both land races differ from each other. Using these land races for the first time in breeding program, as donors for salinity tolerance, two saline tolerant non-lodging high yielding red rice varieties, ‘Ezhome –1’ and ‘Ezhome -2’ were commercially released for cultivation in Kaipad rice tract of Kerala state, India in 2010

Development Of The First Organic Saline Tolerant Rice Varieties

Sea coastal tracts often confront the combined menace of salinity and flood. Compared to any other development approach, breeding for salt stress tolerance is a more promising, energy efficient, economic, and socially acceptable approach. Varieties having traits amenable for organic farming (organic varieties) are the missing link in the organic production chain. Here we report development and commercial release of four saline tolerant organic rice varieties which are first of its kind, christened as ‘Ezhome -1’ , ‘Ezhome -2’, ‘Ezhome -3’ and ‘Ezhome -4’. They are also non lodging, high yielding, and having good cooking and nutritional qualities. They are suited to saline flooded sea coastal ecosystem as well as non-saline tracts. The varieties were developed by adopting conventional breeding linked with novel strategies of organic plant breeding and participatory plant breeding, and growing the entire filial generations and all yield trials in the problem area of farmers