Varietal Variations in Basmati Rice for Yield and Quality Traits in Response to Temperature during the Ripening Phase under Staggered Transplantation
Kaur G, Mahajan G and Gill RS
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21598452
ABSTRACT
High ripening-stage temperatures strongly influence basmati rice yield, quality, and commercial value. This study investigated how different basmati varieties perform in yield and quality traits when exposed to varying temperatures by shifting the transplanting date. The response of four basmati varieties to early transplanting (5 July) and late transplanting (25 July) was evaluated under field conditions for two consecutive years. Across the varieties, basmati rice yield decreased for late transplanting (2.8 t /ha) as compared to early transplanting (3.5 t /ha), and the variety Pusa basmati-1509 (3.5 t /ha) produced higher grain yield than other tested varieties (2.9-3.1 t /ha). A wide variation in chalkiness (2–32%) was observed among the evaluated basmati rice varieties. Punjab basmati-3 and RYT-3390 exhibited markedly lower chalkiness than Pusa basmati-1121 and Pusa basmati-1509. Chalkiness showed a positive correlation with temperature during the ripening phase. Maximum temperatures ranged from 31.1 to 32.80C in the 5 July transplanting and 29.8 to 32.90C in the 25 July transplanting. Minimum temperature declined from 24.5 to 19.10C in the early transplanting and 23.9 to 16.7 0C in the late transplanting. The greatest reduction in temperature was observed under late transplanting during the later stages of grain filling, indicating a cooler thermal environment during grain development. Head rice recovery (HRR) was comparatively higher in Punjab basmati-3 (52–54%) and RYT-3390 (~57%) than in Pusa basmati-1121 (~49%) and Pusa basmati-1509(44–51%). In early-transplanted basmati, HRR was negatively associated with ripening-stage temperature. Varieties exhibiting high HRR together with low and stable chalkiness—such as Punjab basmati-3 and RYT-3390—may therefore serve as promising parental lines in breeding programs aimed at developing basmati varieties with improved grain appearance, quality, and HRR, particularly under warming climatic conditions.
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