Supervisors:
Dr.
L. M. S. Palni
Senior Scientific Advisor-Biotechnology and Project Director
State Biotechnology Programme
Govt. of Uttaranchal, T. D. C. Building
P. O. Haldi, Pantnagar (U. S. Nagar) 263 146
Phone:
+ 91 - 5944 - 260351 (Office) 260352 (Residence)
Prof.
Y. P. S. Pangtey
“Dean”
Deptt
of Botany
Kumaun University
Nainital
–263 001
Phone: + 91 - 5942 – 235973 (Residence)
+
91 - 5942 – 235596 (Office)
Summary:
Rice is the most important
food grain for more than half of the world’s population. It is a
precious food in several parts of Asia and occupies a prime position among
cereals. In India, it is an important staple food in the daily diet of the
low-income group people, particularly in the eastern and southern parts of
the country.
The
present investigation on the exploration of landraces of rice revealed
that remote areas in the mountains, far from the impact of modernization,
still harbour a plethora of landraces to meet local demands. While a
number of landraces of rice are under cultivation in the mountains even
today, these were prominently absent from the agriculture in the plains of
tarai and bhabar and even in the Siwaliks; these are being
maintained by the hill farmers to meet their specific needs and are part
and parcel of their traditional crop management system.
Various eco-physiological studies of different landraces of rice were conducted at the experimental field in Haigad watershed (district Bageshwar) as well as in the Institute nursery at Kosi. The field experiments were carried out to study morphological and productivity related measurements of various landraces of rice. A pot culture experiment was also conducted to study the genotypic variation in some important physiological activities (photosynthesis, transpiration, water use efficiency, stomatal conductance, etc).
Rice
landraces differed significantly in the Chlorophyll content (a, b and
total). Plant height, tiller number, dry matter production, leaf area
differed significantly in the irrigated as well as rainfed landraces.
Genotypic variation in grain yield and its attributes were found to be
significant. In general grain yield was higher in the landraces of
irrigated areas. Among rainfed landraces Danbasmati showed the highest
grain yield. In this area, the dwarf landraces Saurajubawan and Taichin
with high rate of photosynthesis did not show maximum grain yield. Harvest
Index was an important indicator of grain yield of various rice genotypes.
Investigations
on physiological characteristics of thirty landraces of rice (Oryza sativa) along with an introduced variety VL –206, from
Kumaun region of Central Himalaya revealed a great variation in
photosynthesis and related parameters under rainfed conditions. On the
basis of the rate of photosynthesis these were classified into three
groups, I) high photosynthesis group (HPG), II) intermediate
photosynthetic group (IPG), and III) low photosynthetic group (LPG).
Landraces namely, Taichin, Saurajubawan, Syaudhan, Nauli and Sailani, were
classified under HPG, and the rate of photosynthesis ranged between 9.45
to 5.27 mmolm-2s-1;
VL-206 (average photosynthesis, 7.22 mmolm-2s-1),
a recommended high yielding variety for rainfed uplands of Himalaya by the
Vivekanand Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Indian Council of
Agriculture Research, Almora, was included for comparison, and showed
similarity in respect of various physiological parameters viz,
transpiration, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, chlorophyll
content and mesophyll efficiency with the landraces of HPG. Bauria, Bauran,
Laldhan, Patoli, Dudhikapkoti, Saunji, Thapchini, Danbasmati, Kantolia,
Sabhawati, and Dalbadal were found to have intermediate rate of
photosynthesis (IPG; range 4.8 to 3.12 mmolm-2s-1),
whereas Kururhidhan, Chhatuli, Kaladud, Dehradoonibasmati, Bindudhan,
Jhungia, Dutiau, Nandhani, Santoli, Kaunkaun, Tilansi, Chhotiya,
Khudinandhani, and Anjani were belonged to LPG (ranging from 2.73 to 2.21 mmolm-2s-1).
As the higher rate of photosynthesis, high WUE and high mesophyll
efficiency are correlated with the productivity of a particular species by
many workers, this is recommended that the cultivation of landraces like
Taichin, Saurajubawan, Syaudhan, Nauli, Sailani, and VL-206 should be
promoted in the hills of Central Himalayan region where the majority of
rice cultivation is dependent on the rainfall. Further, these landraces
may also be suitable donors in introgressing genes for higher
photosynthesis to landraces of the low photosynthetic group, through
suitable genetic approaches to improve productivity. A strong positive
correlation between photosynthesis and different physiological traits viz.
WUE, stomatal conductance, transpiration, chlorophyll contents and
mesophyll efficiency revealed that these parameters, in combination with
photosynthesis, could be used as tools for the primary selection of
suitable landraces for a particular environment.
Inspite
of many virtues of traditional agriculture, we are still loosing the
precious genetic diversity of these landraces. If a serious view of the
existing situation is not taken, the Himalayan region will become a
food-importing region and loose in terms of ecological and economical
security. It becomes particularly significant with the ever increasing
population. It has been predicted that by the turn of this century around
6% (62 million) of Indian population will be living in the Himalayan
region (Palni et al., 1998b). Furthermore, the region will also loose
traditional knowledge of cultivation and the use of these landraces, and
would no longer be a region with diverse nutritive food. In-situ conservation of these traditional varieties
(landraces) can only succeed when these are linked with the economic
development of the hill farmers.
The Kumaun Himalaya being located in the mega diversity region of the world has substantial and diverse genetic resources that must be carefully conserved for continual utilization in the future. To ensure that these in situ gene banks are maintained and managed well, we must make sustained efforts to educate and inform the policy makers on the importance of these resources for future progress and survival. A national system needs to be put in place to ensure effective conservation, adequate duplication and proper documentation so that the substantial gene pool can be effectively utilized. In the long run, it would be realized that conservation could only be sustainable if our national policy, supporting facilities and financial resources are commensurate with the needs.
On the basis of the present study it may be summarized:
Ø The hill farmers maintained high crop diversity (in the form of landraces), the numbers could, in general, be correlated with the distance of a village from the road head.
Ø Observation on stress physiology revealed that by introgression of genes from landraces resistant to osmotic and salinity stress, varieties with better tolerance to such abiotic stresses could be developed.
Ø Total chlorophyll content, photosynthetic characters and harvest index could be useful criteria for selecting high yielding genotype. Some of the landraces, namely Taichin, Saurajubawan, Syaudhan, Nauli, and Sailani, may be useful source for these characters.
Ø
As agriculture in
the hills is biomass based, care should be taken to select for traits that
lead to quality and quantity fodder in addition to grain yield. Straw
continues to play an important role in the diet of cattle either as a
structure rich component or as a source of energy.
Ø Crop heterogeneity is a possible solution to the vulnerability of crops under monoculture towards various biotic and abiotic stresses. The results of this study support the view that intraspecific crop diversification provides a sound ecological approach and contributes to sustainability of crop production.
Rajneesh Kumar Agnihotri
Subject : Botany
Ph. D - Botany Kumaun University, Nainital
Correspondence Address:
R.K. Agnihotri, EPB/GBPIHED, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora,Uttaranchal-263 643
Work Title