Genetic enhancement of traditional rice varieties of Chhattisgarh through radiation based induced mutagenesis

Chhattisgarh state is known as 'Rice Bowl of India' due to its rich heritage rice biodiversity. More than 23,500 rice germplasm lines are being conserved and maintained at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur (Chhattisgarh). Total 300 aromatic fine grain/short slender grains traditional rice varieties with high nutritive value, various therapeutic value and good grain quality were selected for improvement by reducing height and maturity duration and other undesirable traits. Earlier these rice varieties were very popular among the farmers of Chhattisgarh but due do having some undesirable traits viz., lodging, late maturity (more sterile grains/ panicle), shattering and other undesirable traits which have detrimental effect on grain yield. Mutation breeding activity in rice was started during 2013 at IGKV, Raipur (CG) to improve the defect of traditional rice varieties. During this period, total 23 rice varieties were irradiated with gamma and electron beam