Conservation of folk rice genotypes: Medicinal value secure well being

Abstract

Adaptation of elite cultivars has resulted in rapid erosion of the land races and traditional rice genotypes. In the course of development of modern agriculture many cultivars, including land races and traditional varieties, have been replaced by a much smaller number of varieties which have been derived from the same origin and are generally not very different. Such genetic uniformity among cultivars although offers certain advantage, is also accompanied with greater genetic vulnerability to disease, pests and environmental stresses. The epidemic of southern corn leaf blight in USA, in 1970, provides a good example of such genetic vulnerability, and is also responsible for greatly accelerating the slow-paced genetic conservation programme in the entire world. It has by then realized that biological diversity has to be preserved to achieve sustainable development. Some traditional rice genotypes has the ability to control high blood pressure, body balance, regulating blood sugar level, digestive system disorders, diarrhea in children, skin inflammation, and certain other specific diseases.  Rice milling place a major role in the nutrient content. At the time of polishing rice grain, it discarding bran or brown outerlayer of rice kernel which has considerable amount of nutritional and medicinal values. Milling rice is lacking in many important minerals namely potassium (maintains blood pressure), phosphorus (required for strong bones and dental health), manganese (for various chemical processes in the body) and sulphur (main constituents of proteins in our body). So Polishing should be kept to a minimum during milling.

Cite as

Sanjoy Kumar Bordolui. (2023). Conservation of folk rice genotypes: Medicinal value secure well being. Research and Reviews: Journal of Environmental Sciences, 5(1), 44–49. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7932776