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Hulling-milling values and nutritional evaluation of local varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L.) consumed by the tribal communities of Jharkhand

Meena Kumaria* & H.P.Sharmaa
Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, Dept. of Botany, Ranchi University, Ranchi

Received , 15th January. 2014; Revised: 20th February, 2014

Abstract : Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important food crops grown all over the world. Jharkhand is inhabited by large numbers of tribal and other ethnic communities. Rice is their main food and they cultivate different types of rice varieties which possess many important characters, such as short maturation, biotic and abiotic resistance, good scent, low glycaemic index, antioxidant activity and grow easily without any input. In recent past local varieties are under negligence due to introduction of high yielding varieties. If this cultivation trend continues it is apprehended that Valuable local varieties will be endangered and will be lost soon. However, one negative aspect of high yielding varieties is that they require much care, synthetic fertilizer and treatment with chemical pesticides and insecticides, which is .not good for soil health and also for the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to focus and to take qualitative and quantitative improvement on the local varieties which are good source of valuable genes. Agronomical characters and nutritional values need investigation, before to start any breeding programme or in vitro studies, for improvement of local varieties. In the present investigation four local varieties of rice, namely Goda Dhan, Karhani, Pasara and Senegal Baba are identified for their nutrition and hulling milling values. The variety showing degree of milling percentage in order of merit are Senegal Baba (97%)followed by Karhani (95%), Pasara (90%) and Goda Dhan (86%). Moreover, the proximate nutritional values are variable for different varieties.

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