Author(s):

Humaira Ashraf, Imtiyaz Murtaza, Nageena Nazir, Amir B Wani, Shabeena Naqash and Amjad M Husaini

Abstract: Assessment of nutritional diversity in a crop germplasm is vital. In the present study a set of 19 rice accessions, including pigmented, scented landraces, Basmati-type genotypes and popular varieties of Northern Himalayan region were evaluated biochemically for their nutritional value. De-husked rice grains were assessed for seven major parameters. A highly aromatic landrace of Kashmir Himalayas, which is grown in mid altitude cold regions, showed maximum total protein (8.86%) content as well as highest fiber content (3.31%). However, it recorded the lowest starch content of 70.45% while a popular high yielding variety grown in the plains of Kashmir valley ‘Shalimar rice-1’ recorded the highest (79.36%) starch content as well as maximum amylose percentage (24.34%). Total Phenol content showed a wide range from 4.87 to 1.02 mg/g, with maximum in a pigmented rice genotype ‘Purple rice’ while lowest in Jhelum, a popular high yielding rice variety. Besides, purple rice also had maximum total anthocyanin (9995.34 µg/g) content, while lowest (5943.14 µg/g) was recorded in Jhelum. Similarly, total carotenoids too varied in a wide range, with ‘Khuch’ recording almost 10 times (0.022 µg/g) than the lowest (0.002 µg/g) in Shalimar Rice-1 and Jhelum. These results indicate that scented and pigmented rice genotypes of Kashmir Himalayan region are of better nutritional quality than the conventional high yielding varieties and could be promoted as ‘Specialty’ rice for better economic returns to the farmers.

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