Screening of Some High Iron and Zinc Containing Varieties of Rice (Oryza sativaL.)

Abstract

Screening of rice varieties for high iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content and uptake in rice grain was conducted at Crop Research Station Masodha, N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad during kharif seasons of 2007 and 2008. Ten promising rice varieties have been chosen from previous screening experiments and with consultation of breeders for further screening for high Fe and Zn content and uptake in white rice and brown rice. Among the varieties studied, Karthika recorded maximum grain yield (6.0 t ha−1), yield atributing parameters, N, P, K content and uptake followed by variety R-979-67-2 (5.77 t ha−1) and minimum by Jhelam (1.95 t ha−1). Zinc and Fe content and uptake in grain (white rice) and brown rice varied significantly among the varieties. Variety ADT-43 registered maximum Zn content (26 mg kg−1) and variety R-979-67-2 registered maximum Zn uptake (121 mg kg−1) in white rice, whereas NDR6279 registered maximum Zn content (66.0 mg kg−1) and uptake (371.6 mg kg−1) in brown rice. Maximum Fe content was registered by variety Jhelum (63 mg kg−1) and maximum Fe uptake by variety Karthika (210 mg kg−1) in white rice, while in brown rice maximum Fe content was registered by IR-36 (83 mg kg−1) and maximum Fe uptake by Khitish (401.9 mg kg−1). On an average brown rice registered 250 per cent increase in Zn content and Zn uptake over white rice, whereas in case of Fe there was 164 per cent increase in content and uptake by brown rice over white rice. Varieties NDR-6279, Karthika and Khitish were found superior in respect of yield, yield atributing parameters, N, P, K, Zn and Fe content and uptake in white and brown rice.