Tropical Plant Research

Gowri Rajkumar*, Renuka Silva, Jagathpriya Weerasena and Kumudu Fernando

Abstract:
Oryza rhizomatis is an endemic wild rice species of Sri Lanka. Numerous studies on nutritional attributes on several wild rice species revealed that some wild rice species contain desirable nutritional qualities than the commercial rice varieties. A preliminary investigation was carried out to compare general nutrition composition of O. rhizomatis seeds and the popular commercial variety Bg352 seeds (Oryza sativa L.). Carbohydrate, protein, fat, moisture and ash content of the seeds of this wild rice species was estimated by nutrient content analysis according to the standard protocols recommended by the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC), USA. An unpaired t-test indicated that there was a significant difference between nutritional compositions of two samples at 0.05 significant level (P value < 0.05). According to the mean values, the mean protein content of 12.300 g/100 g, carbohydrate content of 69.354 g/100 g and the fat content of 2.528 g/100 g was found in O. rhizomatis. Whereas the moisture and ash content of O. rhizomatis is lower than in cultivated variety Bg352.