Crop Improvement

The Division of Crop Improvement works with Plant Breeders, Seed Technologist and Crop physiologist with the mandate of providing rice ecosystem based varieties in rice and rice fallow crops and supplying quality seeds for the seed chain in the State besides studying the basic concepts of rice.

We have the pride of releasing 48 varieties and one hybrid in rice for cultivation in Tamil Nadu besides the introduction of 14 varieties from other states or countries. The iconic varieties are ADT 36, ADT 37, ADT 39, ADT 43, ADT (R) 45, CR 1009 and I.W.Ponni. Rich heritage germplasm comprising 1480 genotypes in different maturity groups is being maintained at this division. In the seed production chain, the breeder seeds of our varieties account for 68 - 75 per cent in the State indent. We collaborate with IRRI, ICAR and Private seed companies for the common agenda in the applied research.

The research thrust is also being given to rice fallow crops like pulses, cotton and soybean. So far, 5 varieties in Black gram, 3 varieties in greengram and one each in soybean and cotton were released from this institute for rice fallow situations.

The main objectives of our division is

To evolve short, medium and long duration high yielding rice varieties with good grain quality traits
Breeding varieties for biotic and abiotic stresses in rice
Development of high yielding hybrids
Maintenance of diversified germplasm, cataloguing and utilization
To produce and supply nucleus and breeder seeds of the released varieties in rice and rice fallow pulses to cater the state seed requirement.
Need based research on seed and physiological responses of crops in the Cauvery Delta Zone
Research on rice fallow pulses and fibre crops.
Imparting knowledge on production of quality seeds and hybrid seed production to the farmers of the CDZ

Tamil Nadu Rice Res. Institute, Aduthurai (48 + 1*)

Extra Early	ADT 3, 4, 30 and 48	4
Early duration	ADT 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 23, 26,27, 28, 29,31, 33, 34,3 6, 37, 41, 42,43,45,47, 48 & ADTRH 1*	22+ 1*
Medium duration	ADT 18, 32, 35, 38 and 39	5
Long duration	ADT 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10,11,13, 17, 21,22,24,25,40, 44 and 46	17

* Hybrid

Introduced Rice Varieties

Early duration

IR 50, 64, Pusa 33, Pusa 2-21, IET 1722, 1444, 1786

Medium duration

IR 20 and 34

Long duration

IET 3257, Red Ponni, IW Ponni,

NLR 9672, CR 1009

ADT 36 Rice - 1980 (Triveni/IR 20)

115 days
Medium slender rice
Resistant to blast and stemborer
Suitable for Sornavari /Kar /Kuruvai season
Yield: 6.0 t/ha

ADT 37 - 1987 (BG 280-1/PTB 33)

110 days
Short bold white rice
Compact, long and dense panicle
Resistant to Green Leaf Hopper,
Brown BPH, Blast and Brown spot
Suitable for Kuruvai and Late thaladi
Yield: 5.5 - 6.0 t/ha

ADT 38 - 1987 (IR 1529 / IR 4432 // IR 7963)

130 - 135 days
Suitable for late samba / thaladi
Long slender white rice
Resistant to blast, Brown Plant Hopper,
Rice Tungro Virus and Leaf spot
Yield: 5.5 t/ha

ADT 39 - 1988 (IR 8/ IR 20)

125 days; Semidwarf
Suitable for late thaladi
Medium slender rice
Resistant to blast, BLB and brown spot
Yield: 5.8 t/ha

ADT 43 - 1998 (IR 50 / I.W. Ponni)

115 days
Medium slender rice
1000 grain weight – 15.5g
Suitable for Sornavari, Kar & Kuruvai
Yield: 7.0 t/ha
Resistant to GLH, stemborer and gallmidge

ADT 44 – 2000 (IR 56/OR 142-99)

145 - 150 days

Medium tall, short bold white rice
Resistant to Green Leaf Hopper, Blast,
Stemborer, Leaf Folder and Brown Spot
Yield: 6.2 t/ha

ADT(R) 45 - 2001 (IR 50 / ADT 37)

105 – 110 days
Medium slender rice
1000 grain weight 17.5 g
Amylose 23.2%; HRR 65.3%
Tolerant to drought
Resistant to gall midge, Green Leaf Hopper stemborer and sheath rot
Yield: 6.5 – 7.0 t/ha

ADT(R) 46 - 2002 (ADT 38 / CO 45)

Ø 135 days, Suitable for Thaladi

Ø Medium slender rice
Ø 1000 grain wt. 23.8g; Milling - 76%
Ø Resistant to blast, Green Leaf Hopper, Leaf folder and Stem Borer
Ø Moderately tolerant to RTD and Leaf spot
Ø Yield: 6.5 t/ha

ADT (R) 47 - 2005 (ADT 43 / Jeeragasamba)

• 118 days

• Suitable for Sornavari / Kar / Kuruvai

• Medium slender rice

• 1000 grain weight 13.5g

• Amylose content 20.4%

• Resistant to Bacterial leaf blight and RTD

• Yield: 7.0 t/ha

ADT (R) 48 - 2005 (IET 11412 / IR 64)

95 days
Late Kuruvai season in Nagapattinam & Thiruvarur districts
Suitable for direct seeding during contingent situation
Long slender rice
Resistant to stemborer, leaf hopper and Gall midge
Yield: 4.8 t/ha

Improved White Ponni - 1984 (Taichung 65 / ME 80)

• 135 days

• Medium slender rice

• Resistant to Tungro, BLB and Green Leaf hopper

• Yield: 5.0 t/ha

• Preferred by farmers, buyers, mill owners and consumers

ADTRH 1 Rice hybrid - 1998 (IR 58025A/ IR 66R)

• May - June sowing

• 110 -115 days

• Long panicle and more number of grains

• Long slender rice

• Slight aroma during cooking

• Field tolerance to Stem Borer, Leaf Folder

• Yield: 6.5 t/ha

CR 1009 - 1984 (Pankaj / Jagannath )

• 150 days

• Short bold white rice

• High tillering and non lodging

• Yield: 6.0 t/ha

ADT 3 Green gram - 1988 (H70-16/Rajendran/G65)

• 65 – 70 days

• 500 kg/ha

• Suitable for rice fallow (Jan. 15th to Feb 15th)

ADT 3 Blackgram 1981 (PLS from Tirunelveli local)

• 70 - 75 days

• Season – Jan. 15th to Feb 15th

• 720 kg/ha

• Suitable for rice fallow

ADT 5 Blackgram (Selection from Kanpur Local)

• 70 - 75 days

• 1200 kg/ha

• Suitable for summer irrigated(April sowing)

SEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Department conducts need based seed technological research to develop technologies for improving productivity and production of notified crop varieties /hybrids

The Department has undertaken breeder seed multiplication and distribution of rice varieties

The Department has undertaken foundation and truthfully labeled seed production and distribution of crop varieties viz., pulses and rice

Imparting training on quality seed production to farmers, seed producers and NGOs in varieties/hybrids of agricultural and horticultural crops

CROP PHYSIOLOGY

Screening of Rice varieties for Submergence tolerance in Cauvery delta zone and physiological efficiency of growth and productivity of rice under SRI in comparison to normal system of cultivation are the main objectives currently.

Technologies developed

Ø Spray of methanol 5% or 2% root extract of Eichornia and Gibbrellic acid increases rice yield, improves photosynthetic efficiency and panicle exertion and reduces the spikelet sterility in Samba and Thaladi rice crops.

Ø Spray of kinetin 20 ppm at heading stage, 2% tender coconut water or 5% arappu leaf extract increased the Thaladi rice yield.

Ø Application of 500 kg/ha of lime hastened the root activity of thaladi rice and decomposition of kuruvai stubbles respectively.

Ø 2%DAP spray at flowering stage increases rice fallow pulses yield.

Ø 100ppm Salicylic acid spray at flowering stage increases soybean yield.