LUDHIANA, MARCH 28 (CNI)-The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has developed medium maturing and high yielding variety ‘PR 127’ of ‘A’ grade parmal rice. It has been developed by crossing Pusa 44 with African rice (Oryzaglaberrima). The State Variety Approval Committee approved PR 127 in the presence of scientists from PAU and Department of Agriculture, Punjab; representatives of the State government purchase agencies; and rice milling industry.
Giving details, Dr. G.S. Mangat, Head, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics said the variety ‘PR 127’ matures in about 137 days after seeding. “It possesses long slender (L/B ratio of 3.23), clear translucent grains with excellent milling quality characteristics. It yields 2-3 percent higher total and head rice recoveries than Pusa 44. The variety resists the attack of all the 10 presently prevalent pathotypes of bacterial blight pathogen in the Punjab state. The average paddy yield of this variety is 30.0 quintals per acre,” he added.
Dr. Mangat said this variety will prove very beneficial to the farmers on account of its higher paddy yield, medium maturity period and disease resistance, and to the traders due to its excellent milling characteristics. This variety will not only add to varietal diversity in the state/region but will also facilitate the paddy residue operations on account of its optimal maturity period, he observed. The University has produced large quantity of seed of this variety. The seed is available at all the Regional Research Stations, Seed Farms (Ladhowal, Naraingarh, Faridkot, and Kapurthala), Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Farmer Advisory Service Centres of the Punjab Agricultural University on all the seven days of the week, he informed.
