COLLECTION, EVALUATION AND CONSERVATION OF RICES OF SOUTH ASIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NORTH-EAST INDIA

Abstract

South Asian countries are rich in rice germplasm resources which
are maintained under varied phsiography, climate, topography and tribal
cultures. IRRI has conserved nearly 50,000 accessions of rices from this
region. Above 8000 diverse germplasms of rice were collected from northeastern
hilly region of India by different agencies. NBPGR Regional
Station, Shillong further collected 1541 accessions of rice from this
region between 1985-1990. Diversity in rice germplasm resources,conservation
ex situ or in situ, exploitation of these resources in rice
improvement programmes and potential use of wild relatives of rice
from above region is discussed. Further, systematic collection from
unexplored areas in the region is suggested.