Development of Best Rice Varieties: A Scientific Approach

Best Rice Varieties: Rice is one of the most important crops in India, which plays a vital role in the income of farmers and food security of the country. New rice varieties help farmers to get higher yields, avoid diseases and cope with the changing climate. Development of rice varieties is a complex scientific process, but it can be explained easily. In this article, we will explain this process in simple language, so that both farmers and science people can understand it and take advantage.

Importance of Rice Varieties 

Rice is a staple food in India, and its cultivation is the main source of income for crores of farmers in the country. Apart from this, the food security and economic condition of India also depends largely on the production of rice. Therefore, the importance of rice varieties is not limited to farmers only, but it plays an important role in the economic and social structure of the entire country.

1. Increase in Production 

New rice varieties are developed specifically for the purpose that they give more production than traditional varieties. Higher production can reduce the food crisis in the country. For example, if a new variety produces 20% more rice per hectare than the traditional variety, it benefits farmers and improves their financial condition.

2. Climate tolerance 

In today’s time when climate change has become a big challenge, rice varieties are being developed that can give good yield even in extreme conditions like high temperature, drought, or flood. For example, varieties like Swarna Sub-1 can be successfully grown even in flood-affected areas. Similarly, with the help of drought-tolerant varieties, farmers can cultivate rice even in areas where there is less rainfall. Such varieties provide relief to farmers affected by climate change and maintain stability in their production.

3. Disease resistance 

Another important aspect of rice varieties is that disease resistance is developed in them. Rice plants are affected by a variety of pests and diseases, such as blast disease, leaf folder, and brown plant hopper. Rice should be given the ability to fight these diseases naturally, so that farmers do not have to use expensive pesticides. For example, a variety like IR64 is disease-resistant and is preferred by many farmers.

4. Improvement in quality and taste 

Rice varieties are developed not only to increase production but also to improve their quality, taste, aroma, and nutrition. For example, the Pusa Basmati variety of rice is not only aromatic, but its grain is long and thin, making it a premium product in the global market.

5. Less input and more production 

Some new varieties of rice are such that they can give good production even with less resources. For example, these varieties give more yield despite the use of less water, less fertilizer, and less pesticide. This reduces the cost of cultivation of farmers and increases their profits.

Rice variety development process 

Rice variety development is a complex scientific process that involves the use of agronomy, biotechnology and traditional farming methods. The aim of this process is to develop high-yielding, disease-resistant, climate-tolerant and high-quality rice varieties. To understand this, we can divide it into different steps and techniques to make it easier to understand how new rice varieties are developed.

1. Traditional Selection Method 

This is the oldest and simplest method that farmers have been using for thousands of years. In this, farmers select the plants in their fields that are giving the best results, such as higher production, better quality or disease resistance. This is an easy method but a slow process. It takes years. It consists of four steps –

Selection of good plants: Farmers or scientists select the plants that are the healthiest, most productive and best from the rice plants grown in the field.

Seed collection: Seeds are taken from selected plants and prepared for sowing next time.

Breeding: This process is repeated again and again, which gradually develops a stable and new variety.

2. Hybridization 

Hybridization method is an advanced method of developing new varieties of rice. In this, scientists cross two different varieties of plants, so that the new variety can have the best characteristics of both parents. This is a bit complex and expensive process but new varieties can be developed quickly.

• Selection of male and female plants: First two varieties are selected which are known for different characteristics. For example, a variety that gives high yield and the other which is disease-resistant.

• Pollination: Pollen is taken from one variety and applied to the flowers of the other variety.

Development of new variety: This creates a new hybrid variety, which has the characteristics of both parents. It is then stabilized by growing it for several generations, so that the desired characteristics are fully established in the new variety. 

3. Mutation Breeding 

In this method, the genes of plants are artificially changed to create new and useful varieties. Mutations can also occur naturally, but in this method scientists use chemicals to induce mutations in plants.

• Creating mutations: Scientists change the genes of plants using radiation (such as gamma rays) or chemicals.

Selecting good characteristics: After this, those plants are selected from the mutated plants which have developed useful characteristics, such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, etc.

• Stability: These selected plants are grown for several generations so that their characteristics can stabilize and new varieties can be prepared.

4. Gene Editing and Biotechnology 

In today’s time, biotechnology and gene editing techniques are bringing a revolutionary change in the development of rice varieties. It has the ability to directly alter the DNA (genes) of plants, so that special characteristics can be added to rice plants. Two techniques are used in this process:

• Transgenic technology: In this, genes of another organism are inserted into rice plants. For example, if a drought-tolerant gene is found in a bacteria, it can be inserted into a rice plant.

• CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing: In this technique, special changes are made in the genome of rice plants. This is a very accurate and effective method, in which only those genes are changed in the plants which are responsible for special qualities, such as more production, disease-resistance or better quality.

5. Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) 

This is a modern technique which is a combination of traditional selection methods and biotechnology. In this, “markers” present in the DNA of rice plants are used, which help in identifying special qualities. For example, if scientists know that a particular gene is responsible for disease resistance, they mark that gene and then develop new varieties based on it.

• Marker identification: Scientists identify a particular marker in the DNA that indicates a useful trait.

• Selection process: Plants are selected based on this marker so that new varieties can be developed quickly.

6. Testing and Certification of New Varieties 

When a new variety is developed, it is not made available to farmers directly. First it is tested in several stages. These tests are done in different areas and climatic conditions for several years to ensure that the new variety is working well in all conditions.

• Field testing: New varieties are tested in different fields in collaboration with farmers. • Government recognition: When a new variety is successful, it is certified by the government so that it can be widely distributed among farmers.

Future for rice growers in India 

In the future, gene editing and biotechnology will be used more in the development of rice varieties. Scientists are constantly working in this direction so that even better varieties can be made available to farmers in the future. Rice variety development is a complex process, but its results are important for farmers and the food security of the country. From traditional methods to modern biotechnology, rice variety development is a long journey that requires the cooperation of both science and farmers. New varieties not only help farmers get better production, but also help them cope with changing weather and new diseases. It is important for farmers to adopt new and improved varieties and incorporate them in their farming to improve their income and strengthen India’s food security.