Export potential of aromatic rice

 DELHI: White rice may rule the domestic and international markets with the famous 'Basmati' variety having pride of place, but in the near future it is black rice from the northeast that may win hearts of consumers due to its nutritional value and health benefits.

Black rice is mainly grown and consumed in Manipur where it is called 'Chakhao'. Famous for its pleasant nutty flavor, this little known rice variety has, however, started entering the world market through China which cultivates it both for local consumption and export.

Waking up to the need to promote the variety which already has a market in USA, Australia and European countries, India's premier agricultural research institute is set to suggest an action plan to the government on how to promote black rice and other varieties.

The plan is expected to not only earn foreign exchange for the country but also improve the condition of farmers in the northeast and elsewhere.

Setting the stage for such a move, chief of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Trilochan Mohapatra on Friday threw a question at a gathering of eminent scientists here at a conference on the occasion of World Food Day when he asked whether they (scientists) were leaving out other regions (non-Basmati rice producing areas) in their research.

"There has to be a concrete action plan (to promote other varieties of rice from other regions). I believe this conference will throw light on the issue in next two days", said Mohapatra in what is largely believed to be a move to push other unique rice varieties, having high nutritional value, through government intervention.

In value terms, India exports rice worth over Rs 40,000 crore with the maximum foreign exchange coming to the country through export of Basmati variety. Though the country has done exceedingly well with arrival of a new Basmati variety (Pusa-1509), the idea is to increase the share of other varieties of rice as well in the international markets.

Head of the IARI's genetics division, A K Singh, who was the chief breeder of the popular and hugely successful Pusa-1509 variety of Basmati rice, admitted the importance of promoting other unique variety like black rice as well for larger interest of farmers in different regions. Singh told the TOI: "Black rice has medicinal value. Being rich in decease-fighting antioxidants, it is anti cancerous as well".

Other scientists, assembled here for the conference on "promoting exportable rice varieties and evolving a sustainable development model", too pledged to promote all such varieties including black rice which got pushed into the background over the years.

Joint director (research) of the IARI, K V Prabhu, too felt the need to promote different local varieties through government's intervention. He said the institute would suggest to the government how to go about it after taking into view the deliberations of the conference, organized jointly by the institute and the Voluntary Action for Research Development and Networking (VARDAN).

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) too has of late, started promoting the unique aspect of these varieties on various discussion platforms.

Jackfruit Propagation

Propagation

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By Seed

From Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforesty ¹

Jackfruit grown from seed usually produce acceptable fruit. The first generation of seedlings appears to retain about 90 percent of the characteristics of the parent. Seedlings tend to be more vigorous than their grafted counterparts. Seeds should be collected from trees that have regular, high yields and that also have good horticultural characters, such as insect, disease and nematode resistance, proper fruit size and excellent pulp quality.

After opening the fruit with a large knife, seeds are separated from the fleshy sheaths that enclose the seeds. Each fruit contains 100–500 seeds; there is no correlation between fruit size and the number of seeds it contains. There are about 50–90 seeds/kg

(23–41 seeds/lb). The thin, slimy coating around the seed (perianth lobe) should be removed and the seeds thoroughly rinsed in water to remove any remaining pulp juice or sugary residue. Only the largest seeds should be used, as these will give the earliest and highest germination and produce the strongest seedlings. Seeds may be air-dried in the shade for about an hour for ease of handling, but they should not be allowed to dry out, as this will kill them. Germination for seed sown within a few days of harvesting is usually high,

around 90%.

Seeds are recalcitrant, i.e., they do not retain viability when dried or stored for extended periods. They should be planted immediately for best germination and seedling vigor. Seeds can be stored moist in a plastic container in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Stored seeds germinate more slowly than fresh seeds. No seed pretreatment is required. However, soaking in water or a dilute gibberellic acid solution for 24 hours prior to sowing hastens germination and is recommended. Hot water treatment has been used successfully to stimulate germination.

Germination begins in 1–3 weeks, or longer (up to 6 weeks) if seeds were stored more that a few days after collection. Daily watering is often necessary once seeds germinate. Jackfruit seedlings are very easy to grow. Seedlings develop very quickly, reaching 25 cm (10 in) in height within 3–4 months.

Jackfruit Propagation by Grafting ²

By Richard J. Campbell, Ph.D and Noris Ledesma, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Seeds are cross-pollinated and therefore not true-to-type, so grafting known varieties onto rootstocks is often done. Sown seedlings can be top-worked (grafted) with select varieties once they are established. ¹

Grafting is the most reliable means of propagating a desired cultivar. Grafting joins together a piece of a mature, bearing tree (scion) with a separate seedling tree (rootstock) to form a permanent union. The scion forms the canopy of the tree and the rootstock the lower trunk and roots. Grafted trees will bear fruit in 2 to 3 years after planting and have a more spreading and open canopy than seedling trees. Jackfruit grafting is only now becoming a viable method of propagation. Today, grafted cultivars are common in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand and increasingly in South Florida.

Rootstock: The proper rootstock provides a tree with a healthy root system and can influence growth and fruit traits such as tree vigor, size, and fruit quality. There has been little investigation into preferred rootstocks for jackfruit in the Western Hemisphere. Locally collected seed can be used, given that they form healthy and vigorous seedlings with a strong root system. Seedlings for
rootstock should be grafted when less than one year old. They should be healthy and not rootbound, which will permanently weaken the jackfruit tree, resulting in poor growth and fruiting, and susceptibility to diseases. A rootstock can be grafted when the stem reaches the diameter of a pencil, or even smaller if budding techniques are used.

When to graft. Grafting is most successful when daytime temperatures are 70 to 85F and nighttime temperatures are 55 to 65F, keeping in mind that the key to successful grafting of the jackfruit is the maintenance of vigorous growth.

Veneer Graft. The modified veneer graft, with or without the retention of leaves is among the most successful techniques for grafting the jackfruit. This method requires active scions of 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) with a swollen terminal bud.

The last fully expanded leaf is retained. Long, shallow veneer cuts are made on both the rootstock and scion, exposing the cambium of both. The veneer cut stops short of the terminal bud of the scion. A short flap of bark is left at the base of the veneer cut on the rootstock to secure the scion during wrapping. The cut surfaces of both the scion and the rootstock are then joined and wrapped with plastic grafting tape or a rubber band, leaving the terminal bud uncovered.

The grafted tree and container are covered with a clear plastic bag and placed in a bright, but shaded location and thoroughly watered. The terminal bud on the scion will unfold its leaf and continue to grow. Rootstock sprouts from below the graft should be removed. The bag can be removed after the scion begins to grow in 2 to 4 weeks. The height of the graft on the rootstock is not critical. The same method can be used with leaf removal on the scion, and these scions can be stored in a plastic bag at 12C (54F) for up to a week. Other successful techniques include chip budding, cleft and forkert grafts. The key to all of these methods is the vigor of the rootstock and scion, and the preparation of the budwood.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Grafting with a swollen terminal bud

If possible grafted trees of known cultivars are preferred. Seedlings of 'NS-1' and 'Black Gold' jackfruit have been used as rootstock sources. For rootstocks, select vigorously growing seedlings that are healthy and eliminate stunted, yellow or chlorotic seedlings. Chip budding, side veneer grafting, cleft grafting, and approach grafting have been used, but mostly side veneer grafting. Select scions or budsticks from trees growing vigorously, preferably in the summer or fall. Cut bud sticks 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) long from shoot tips, remove all the leaves, and be sure that the terminal bud is swollen. Budwood may be prepared ahead of time by removing the tip and then collecting the scions when buds begin to swell, after a week or two. Bud or graft trees when the rootstocks are about pencil size in diameter. The tip of the terminal bud should be left uncovered when veneer grafting. Place grafted trees in a mist bed in partial shade or cover with a plastic bag and place in the shade. Jackfruit can also be propagated by air layers, but this method is not commonly used.
Jackfruit trees are greatly affected by root restriction (i.e., being pot bound) and develop a deeper and stronger root system if planted in large, deep, long (18-24 inches; 45-61 cm), plastic pots. When planted, pot-bound trees do not establish well and grow poorly. Large jackfruit trees (2-4 feet tall; 0.6-1.2 m) establish more quickly and grow better when planted out than do small trees. ³

Propagation by vegetative means such as cuttings and air-layering is also possible, although uncommon. ³

Cuttings are not a common propagation method for jackfruit, nor have plants propagated in this manner been tested under field conditions. However, semi-hardwood cuttings with 3 leaves (leaves cut in half across the midrib) dipped in 5,000 to 10,000 ppm IBA (1H-indole-3-butanoic acid) and placed in an intermittent mist bed will root in about 60 to 70 days.