Research Projects

Rice, the world's staple food, faces challenges in increasing production and productivity due to stagnating yield levels of current hybrids and varieties. The development of highly heterotic, superior, and high-yielding inter-specific rice hybrids is crucial. However, the hybrid sterility of inter-specific / indica x japonica hybrids is a major bottleneck. The discovery of a wide compatibility gene (s5n) has overcome this problem, allowing for the'speed breeding' route using Marker Assisted Backcross Breeding. The study is relevant in the current context due to the development of wide compatible maintainer parents, which are essential for inter-specific hybrid breeding. The project aims to develop wide compatible versions of TNAUCMs 2B (a short duration maintainer line of TNAUCMs 2A) and COMs 24B (medium duration maintainer of COMs 24A), which are the female parents of released/pipeline rice hybrids suited for Tamil Nadu. The project focuses on the introduction of wide compatible genes into maintainer parents, crossing with japonica-derived restorer parents for inter-specific hybrid development. Diversified maintainers with japonica genetic base can be developed for later deployment in the development of inter-specific rice hybrids. The transfer of the wide compatible gene into in-house developed, elite maintainers of released/pipeline rice hybrids suited for Tamil Nadu is a key initiative towards developing suitable inter-specific hybrids for increasing production and productivity in the state.