Rice variety ‘PR 111’ replaces ‘PR 123’

Ludhiana: The ‘PR 123’ variety of superfine rice which was released by Punjab Agricultural University last year is fast replacing the old variety ‘PR 111’ in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran (Punjab) and Haryana. Dr Balwinder Singh, director, research, said it was a semi-dwarf, disease resistant variety with dark green erect leaves. “It matures in 143 days after seeding. It possesses extra-long slender (L/B ratio of 3.73), clear translucent grains with excellent cooking and eating quality characteristics,” he added. The variety resists the attack of all 10 presently prevalent pathotypes of bacterial blight pathogen in Punjab.

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Dr VP Singh, the breeder of ‘Basmati 1121’ said: “The variety will set new milestones in future in non-basmati exports’ category. In the last two years, India has exported around 7.0 million tonnes of non-basamti rice.

Dr GS Mangat, senior rice breeder, PAU, said though the average paddy yield of the variety was 2.0 quintal per acre higher than the ‘PR 111’ variety, some farmers in the districts of Sri Muktsar Sahib and Ferozepur obtained 90-100 maunds of paddy from an acre. “The variety is proving beneficial to the farmers on account of its higher paddy yield, shorter maturity period and disease resistance and to the traders due to excellent quality characteristics,” he added. —TNS