Elite rice variety ‘VL Dhan 159’ for cultivation under organic condition of Uttarakhand hills

Abstract

VL Dhan 159 is an early duration rice variety suitable for cultivation under rainfed upland organic condition of Uttarakhand hills. This variety has been developed by ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan(VPKAS) Almora, Uttarakhand for the kharif season and released by the State Varietal Release Committee of Uttarakhand in 2020, Subsequently it was notified by the Central Seed Committee vide notification number S.O.500(E) dated the 29th January, 2021. VL Dhan 159 is derived from the cross VL 66/HPR 2143 with a maturity duration of 110-115 days. Under organic conditions, this variety has recorded an average yield of 2,054 kg/ha and out yielded the check varieties of Vivek Dhan 154 by 42.34 per cent, VL Dhan 221 by 27.34 per cent and VL Dhan 156 by 33.64 per cent. It was found resistant against leaf and neck blast (score 0-3), brown leaf spot (score 3-4), sheath rot (score 1), leaf scald (score 1-3), false smut (score 0), stem borer and leaf folder (score 0-1) under natural condition. It has more number of panicles/m2 (229) compared to the checks of Vivek Dhan 154 (200) and VL Dhan 156 (172). This variety has non lodging intermediate plant height, semi-erect with well exerted panicle. It has exhibited a better quality characteristics like high hulling (82.8%) and milling (72.1%), intermediate Alkali Spreading Value (4.0), Gel consistency (50) and amylose content (25.93%). Grain Chalkiness is very occasionally present. It has short bold grain with L/B ratio of 2.00