Developmental variation in ovaries and kernels in a multi-kernelled rice variety- Jugal

ABSTRACT The rice fruit or spikelet contains only one kernel. A handful traditional cultivars are available with more than one ovaries/kernels per spikelet. Jugal , a traditional rice cultivar from West Bengal, India possess multiple ovaries before flowering and multiples kernels per spikelet. In this endeavour, the single grained-spikelet varied from 0.00 to 46.26% per panicle. Single pistillated-spikelet was first reported on 8 th day before flowering and it was 2.63%. The number of spikelet bearing single ovary/kernel gradually increased till the panicle emergence and then till physiological maturity of grains. Maximum single kernelled-spikelet was recorded on 30 th day after panicle emergence (46.26%). The double ovary/kernelled-spikelet per panicle varied from 53.74% to 95.39%. High percentage of double pistillated-spikelet per panicle was recorded before heading and it was more than 90% or very near to 90%. Gradually the double pistillated-spikelet per panicle decreased with the advancement of developmental course of the panicle and continued to decrease till grain maturity. Lowest percentage (53.74%) of double kernelled-spikelet per panicle was observed on 30 th day after panicle emergence and it almost remained static till harvest of the crop. Triple pistillated-spikelet was 4.33% per on 10 th day before panicle emergence. On 9 th day before panicle emergence it was 2.33% and on 8 th day before panicle it was 1.00% only and subsequently, no triple pistillated-spikelet was observed till grain maturity. However, randomly one/two triple kernelled-spikelet was also reported. It would be useful if all the spikelets were doubled kernelled. The shape of kernels obtained from doubled kernelled-spikelets were slender, which has high demand among the urban and sub-urban consumers.