Comparison of traditional physico-chemical methods and molecular marker assays for characterization of Basmati rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.)

Abstract

This study was aim to review the efficiency of molecular markers and traditional physico-chemical methods for the identification of basmati rice. The study involved 44 promising varieties of Indica rices collected from geographically distant places and adapted to irrigated and aerobic agro-ecosystems. Quality data for physical characteristics and organoleptic evaluation observed in AICRP trials and fingerprints based on inter-SSR- PCR and SSR-PCR assays were used and all the varieties were grouped into two major distinct clusters based on distance matrices. The 22 varieties adapted to aerobic agro-ecosystem were classified into a single largest cluster. Both traditional and evolved basmati (EB) varieties were clustered with varieties adapted to irrigated agro-ecosystem. Estimates of genetic diversity between varieties adapted to irrigated and aerobic rice were more prominent than that observed between basmati varieties as was indicated by both the molecular assays. Estimates of physico-chemical quality parameters supplemented with organoleptic attributes were observed to be adequate to provide confirmatory unscrupulous identification of basmati rice.

Key words: Basmati rice, physico-chemical characteristics, molecular markers, genetic diversity, organoleptic evaluation.