Uttar Lakshmi: A Medium Duration High Yield Potential Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Variety

Abstract

Uttar Lakshmi was developed through hybridization between MTU 7029 and Annada followed by selection. It was developed at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya and was recommended by ‘52nd Annual Rice Group Meeting 2017’ for release in Odisha, West Bengal and Tripura, subsequently it has been identified for release by the Variety Identification Committee in the 54th Annual Rice Group Meeting 2019. Consequently Uttar Lakshmi was notified by the ‘Central Variety Release Committee (F. No. 3-74/2019-SD.IV, Sl. No. 4, dated 06.01.2020, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Government of India)’ for cultivation in Odisha, West Bengal and Tripura. The variety is suitable for Boro season, however it can be cultivated both in Boro (Rabi) and Kharif seasons. It is a medium duration rice variety, days to 50% flowering are 93 and 135 days during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively. Time of sowing is mid-November to mid-December during Boro season and May-June during Kharif season. Uttar Lakshmi bears short bold grains with 5.09 mm long kernel, 2.16 mm breadth and 2.27 length-breadth ratio. Hulling, milling and head rice recovery were 76.5%, 66.4% and 55.10%, respectively. Amylose content was 25.6% with medium gel consistency (51.50) indicates separable and soft cooked rice as preferred in India. Grain chalkiness very occasionally present. The variety is resistant to leaf blast, sheath root and bacterial leaf blight. It is also resistant to lodging and shattering. The average yield of Uttar Lakshmi is around 6.0 t/ha.