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

Abstract

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.