~ 1693 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies 2019; 7(6): 1693-1700 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2019; 7(6): 1693-1700 © 2019 IJCS Received: 04-09-2019 Accepted: 06-10-2019 Monica Jyoti Kujur Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India GK Koutu Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India R Shiv Rama Krishnan Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India Yogendra Singh Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India Corresponding Author: Monica Jyoti Kujur Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India Genetic variability of agro-morphological traits in traditional varieties of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) from Madhya Pradesh, India Monica Jyoti Kujur, GK Koutu, R Shiv Rama Krishnan and Yogendra Singh Abstract An extensive collective of 261 farmers’ variety from tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh was done by the researches of Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya to generate breeding material and broaden the gene pool of advanced genotypes. Varieties namely Biranjphool, Patharilal Teduha, Khurdy, Buddhu Dhan, Lalita Dhan, Khurdy, Batrolal, Ramesh Dhan, Bhuri Saiyri, Dhaniya Dhan, Dhanshingh Dhan, Kali Dhan, Sairi Chhote, Safed Dhan, Dihula Sidhi and Ishwarya Dhan were identified for earliness. Lalu Dhan, Rambhog, Nawari, Kali Dhan, Dhan Langa, Biranjiphod Janki, Dhan4, Chapti Gurmatiya, Banpur Dhan and Dihula Yagya are potential varieties for short stem length. Hulling and milling percentage was fairly good in farmers’ variety ranging from 72.09% (Dhan2) to 84.76% (Bhataphool) and 54% (Chhota Sathiya) to 78.65% (Asamkoti). But recovery of head rice was as poor as 27.35% (Rakeda Chhota). Keywords: Rice farmers’ variety, landraces, genetic variability, Madhya Pradesh, genetic variability Introduction Rice is the most significant human sustenance crop on the planet which directly feeds nearly half of world’s population – more than 3 billion people, over a more extended time than has any other crop. In India itself a wide varieties of rice cultivars, landraces and numerous lesser known traditional varieties have been under development through natural and forced selection since ages by tribal farmers [1] . India was once a home of 75,000 plus cultivars/landraces of rice [2, 3, 4] . At present 80% of India’s rice acreage is occupied by high yielding superior varieties and only 20% consist of traditional cultivars. In the past, farmers would select and spare a proportion of seed of their crops at each harvest to sow and cultivate in the next growing season, selecting the seed from the plants that performed best in their local environment and sometimes selecting different types characterized by desirable traits (e.g., different ripening times, particular tastes and winter-hardiness etc.). These cycles of selection were often repeated over many years on the same farm, and resulted in crops that were genetically heterogeneous but comparatively homogeneous and stable for specific trait(s) for which they have been evolved by the farmers/communities due to repeated exposure to both natural and human selective pressures. These crops are known as ‘landraces’, but are sometimes also referred to as ‘farmers’ variety’, or ‘local’, ‘primitive’ or ‘traditional’ varieties [5] . The modern high yielding varieties (HYVs) differs from its wild progenitor in large arrays of morphological and physiological traits and is a source of traits and genetic diversity for agriculture. HYVs have wider adaptability in contrast, farmers’ varieties are generally niche- specific. But since they have been developed in a specific geographical condition and has survived decades of climate change, they seemed to have develop resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses therefore performs better in the area of its evolution. Plant breeding has benefited from landraces, to develop more nutritious plant varieties, as well as varieties tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses [6] . Material and Method From tribal rice ecosystem of Madhya Pradesh, 261 farmers’ variety was collected and grown in the university Seed Breeding Farm, college of agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, situated at 26 0 192’ N latitude, 99 0 232’ E longitude.