Exploration Conservation and Characterization of Wild Rice Diversity of ‘Rarh Bengal’, India

Abstract

Wild rice is a valuable tool for modern crop improvement. Present elite rice varieties evolved from the wild and weedy rice varieties through natural selection. Wild rice varieties consist of several important characteristics into their gene pool which may be utilized for the future crop improvement. Present investigation deals with the distribution, conservation and characterization of wild rice varieties presently available in the red and lateritic region of West Bengal. From the extensive survey it was observed that several accessions were present in the red and lateritic region and maximum number of accessions were reported from the species O. rufipogon, and O. nivara. Due to the various developmental work, climate change the diversity of these varieties are vulnerable day by day. Most of the varieties have been disappearing from their natural habitat. For the sustainability of the agriculture system the existence of these varieties are important.