Tropical Plant Research

Warepam Jesmi Devi, Yaikhom Vivekananda, Arif Uddin, J. M. Laishram and Supriyo Chakraborty*

*Assam University, Silchar 788011, Assam, India

Abstract:
Rice (Oryza sativa) is the most widely consumed staple food for a large section of world’s population. Biotechnological developments have led plant breeders to develop for more efficient selection strategies instead of the traditional phenotype-based plant selection method. Rice varieties other than white are usually called red or black rice. Black scented rice is in great demand and mostly grown in Asian countries. The intensity of pericarp in black rice ranges from dark purple to light purple, and the genetic mechanism underlying this colour variation is yet to be identified. Therefore, the inheritance patterns of black rice cultivars and the phenotypic markers associated with black pericarp colour have been studied in this study. Phenotypic investigation of the black scented rice may aid in the breeding of anthocyanin-rich rice varieties and may provide insights into the potential enhancement of this valuable antioxidant in a variety of foodstuffs. The experiments were conducted on F₁ and F₂ individuals developed from the crosses between indigenous black scented rice (Chakhao) cultivars of Manipur and the local white landrace cultivars. The segregation ratio of F₂ individuals was analyzed with the chi-square formula. The F₂ population showed some of the morphological markers like purple coleoptiles, purplish-black colour at leaf tip and stalks and the formation of black rings (auricles) were associated with pericarp colours. This, in fact, revealed the inheritance pattern of pericarp colour in black scented rice. The present study provides useful information on the inheritance of pericarp colour in black scented rice of Manipur and possesses the potential for their further genetic improvement.