Improved amylose content of rice (IR72) induced through gamma radiation

In general grain quality and quality preferences vary across rice growing countries and regions. Filipinos preferres translucent, well milled, long grain rice with aroma and minimal broken grains which is soft after cooling. The amylose content of rice starch is a major eating quality factor. The aim of this study is to develop rice mutants with good eating quality and low to intermediate amylose content through induced mutation using gamma radiation. Low to intermediate amylose content in rice were identified and selected among the advance generation lines irradiated with 200 and 300Gy dose of gamma radiation. Screening was done using qualitative method (Iodine staining method). Selected lines were analyzed quantitatively, to determine the percent amylose content. Percent amylose were group to several categories where; 0-6% is waxy, 6-12% is very low, 12-18% is low, 18-24% is intermediate and >25% is high. Results were further confirmed using molecular marker technique by looking at the waxy gene which code for granule bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) and controls amylose content in rice. Among the 30 lines selcted and anaylzes, 2 lines were confirmed to have a gene base mutation with a low to intermediate amylose content. Thus, induced mutation using gamma radiation has successfully improved amylose content in rice (IR72). (author)