Bhadra (MO 4) A high yielding dwarf rice variety for Kuttanad

Abstract

IR-8 and Ptb-20 were crossed in 1967-68 at Rice Research Station Moncompu in order to evolve a high yielding variety possessing good grain quality attributes. Culture M-11-57-5-1 is a derivative of the above cross. It has recorded significantly higher yield than the popular high yielding varieties Jaya and Bharathy in the experiments in the Research Station, in State Seed Farm and in cultivators' fields It was also superior to two other varieties Sabari and Aswathi under Kuttanad conditions. Further, this possesses additional attributes like good tolerance to Brown plant hopper and desirable grain qualities. This culture was released by the variety Release Committee of the State as a 'variety under the name "Bhadra" (M 04).