Extra long, long, medium and short grain rices- biochemical and nutritional traits

Nineteen rice genotypes involving four extra long grain, five long grain, seven medium grain and three having short grain sizes were employed in this study to evaluate the biochemical and nutritional properties of varying sizes rice genotypes. The fat content was found to be highest in extra long grain genotypes in brown fraction while in milled fraction, it was found to be highest in long grain rice genotypes. Crude fibre and ash content was found to be highest in extra long grain genotypes in both brown and milled rice fractions. The content of total sugars, reducing sugars and total phenol was found to be highest in extra long grain genotypes in both brown and milled rice fractions. Total amino acids, crude protein and phytate content were found to be highest in medium grain genotypes in both brown and milled fractions. Starch content was found to be higher in milled rice than in brown rice. In brown rice protein fractions, prolamin was found to be in lowest amount while glutelin was found to be in highest amount in all nineteen rice genotypes. Principal component analysis extracted four principal components that explained 78.2% and 80.9% of the total variances in brown and milled rice grains respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that the grain sizes are fairly good indicators of biochemical and nutritional characters and can be useful in indirect selection of rice genotypes having desired grain composition.