Indian farmers could soon access new high-yielding rice varieties that consume significantly less water and reduce labor costs, offering a breakthrough solution to agriculture's growing challenges.
In a collaborative effort, scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have developed innovative rice lines specifically designed for dry direct-seeded rice (DDSR) cultivation. Unlike conventional flooded paddy fields, this method involves planting seeds directly into dry soil, dramatically cutting water usage and labor expenses.
The breakthrough varieties incorporate 19 crucial traits, including anaerobic germination, enhanced yield potential, robust seedlings, and resistance to lodging. They also offer protection against major threats like blast disease, brown planthopper, and gall midge.
These improvements have been integrated into MTU 1010, one of India's most widely cultivated rice varieties, and IR 91648-B-89-B, an elite breeding line incorporating drought-resistant genes from Swarna, another popular variety among Indian farmers.
Field trials have demonstrated impressive results, with top-performing lines producing up to 5.7 tons per hectare under DDSR conditions and 5.6 tons in traditional flooded fields. This represents a remarkable 15-16 percent yield increase compared to parent varieties.
Dr. Vikas K. Singh, Regional Breeding Lead-South Asia, highlighted the achievement's significance: "This is one of the few successful efforts to combine a wide set of DDSR traits into elite rice backgrounds. It shows that popular transplanted varieties can be redesigned for direct-seeded systems without losing yield or grain quality."
Several new lines have already entered India's varietal release pipeline, with two undergoing advanced evaluation trials. The research, supported by India's Department of Biotechnology through the IRRI-ICAR work plan, addresses critical concerns facing Indian agriculture, water scarcity and rising labor costs, while maintaining food security for millions.
