NSB approves two new Boro paddy varieties on Tuesday

The National Seed Board (NSB) has approved two new high-yielding Boro rice varieties developed by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).

The rice varieties were approved in the 111th meeting of the NSB held on Tuesday, January 09. As a result, the total number of rice varieties developed by BRRI stood at 115.

In the 111th meeting of the NSB chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Ms Wahida Akter. Director General of BRRI Dr. Md. Shahjahan Kabir along with other high officials of related ministries and departments were also present in the meeting.

BRRI Dhan107

Among two new varieties BRRI dhan107, a premium quality balam type high yielding boro rice variety. The line was collected by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in 2015 from farmers‍‍` fields and developed through pure line selection.

The selected pure line was tested for three (03) years in the research field of BRRI, Gazipur and then it was evaluated in the experimental field of BRRI regional stations in 2019 as well as in different farmers’ fields of Bangladesh in 2020.

 Afterwards it was evaluated in the Proposed Variety Trial (PVT) established by Seed Certification Agency (SCA) in Boro 2022.

Due to its successful performance in the PVT, BRRI authority applied to NSB for releasing the variety and later on NSB released Lata balam as BRRI dhan107 as a premium quality balam type high yielding Boro rice variety for cultivation throughout the country in its 111th meeting.

The average plant height of this variety is 103 centimeter (cm). The average growth duration is 143 days which is approximate to BRRI dhan50. The flag leaf is broad, erect and long. The color of the leaf is green.

The average yield of BRRI dhan107 is 8.19 tonnes per hectare, although with appropriate management, under favorable environment it can be yielded at 9.57 tonnes per hectare, claimed by The BRRI.

The result of PVT showed that on average BRRI dhan107 yielded 17.67% higher than the check variety BRRI dhan50 in ten locations. The grain quality of the rice is excellent, that is, the grain is extra-long slender, 7.6 millimeter. The amount of amylose and protein of the variety is 29.1% and 10.02%, respectively.

The weight of every 1000 grains of BRRI dhan107 is 26.1 grams. The grain color is like straw and the milled rice of the variety is extra-long, slender and white. Therefore, it is expected that the people of Bangladesh will be interested in the cultivation of the variety and as a result BRRI dhan107 will play a major role in the national rice production of Bangladesh, BRRI claimed in a press release on Tuesday.

BRRI Dhan108

BRRI dhan108, is a High-yielding (Jira type) Boro rice variety. This variety has medium slender fine grains such as Jira dhan and a greater number of grains (250-270) per panicle.

The breeding line BRH11-9-11-4-5B is a high yielding variety which has been selected for cultivation throughout the country during Boro season. BRH11-9-11-4-5B has been developed by hybridization between IR 80561 and China inbred 321 and pedigree selection.

The research program started in 2012 at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) under the NATP-PIU-BARC project. The grain yield and various agronomic parameters of this new breeding line were extensively tested in diverse agro-ecological conditions of Bangladesh in farmers‍‍` fields.

Finally, at the 111th meeting of the NSB - this homozygous breeding line was released for cultivation in Boro season as BRRI dhan108 throughout the country.  The average plant height of BRRI dhan108 is 102 cm with erect, broad, dark green leaves and it is also lodging tolerant with 149-151 days growth duration.

This variety has been developed for better market price for the farmers and branding. BRRI dhan108 has high yield and fine grain.

 The main characteristics of this variety are a greater number of grains (250-270) per panicle. The average yield of BRRI dhan108 is 8.7 tonnes per hectare, which is 1.0-1.5 tonnes more than BRRI dhan100.

BRRI dhan108 grains has excellent physico-chemical characteristics, with a every 1000 grain weight of 16.3 grams. The content of amylose and protein is 24.5% and 8.8%, respectively. Its cooked rice is non-sticky.