DNA Chip Unveils Truth About Two
Groups of Cultivated Rice Varieties
Jul
02, 2015
A DNA chip developed by researchers
of the Benares Hindu University (BHU) researchers for fingerprinting of rice by
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) scientists proved that the
two most important groups of cultivated Aus and Aman (Indica) rice varieties
were domesticated in India, according to Times of India.The findings have
gained importance in the light of a debate that has been going on as to whether
the two varieties were first cultivated in India or China.
Scientists told local sources that
they have developed the chip based on a comprehensive set of single-copy rice
genes. The lead researcher of the chip project noted that the chip can used to
store and study data related to genetic diversity and phylogenetic
characteristics of cultivated and wild rice varieties. "The chip has also
proved useful for monitoring the spread of new rice varieties, checking the
purity and varietal identity of rice seeds and therefore in quality control and
regulation of rice seed business," he was quoted as saying.
"The ICAR rice chip will help
identify new useful genes from our vast genetic resources of wild rice and
traditional rice varieties to face the twin challenges of growing population
and climate change," he added.
The BHU spokesperson noted that the
DNA chip is a breakthrough in rice genetic research. It is a high density
chip and is capable of storing 50,051 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism)
genotypes and can be used for both genetic and evolutionary studies as well as
molecular breeding in rice, he added.
Indian Researchers Conserving
Indigenous Rice Varieties to Develop New High-Yielding Ones
Jul
02, 2015
Researchers from the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) and the State
Seed Testing Laboratory (SSTL) in Odisha along with the National Bureau of Plant
Genetic Resources (NBPGR) under ICAR and Protection of Plant Varieties and
Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV & FRA) in New Delhi are collecting and
preserving indigenous rice varieties in order to develop new high-yielding rice
varieties, according to local sources.
The CRRI Director told local sources that they have planned to conserve
indigenous rice varieties as they are often destroyed by rapid urbanization and
industrialization. Their best genes can be later used to develop new varieties,
he said.
CRRI reportedly has nearly 30,000 indigenous varieties, including 5,000
from Odisha and 11,000 from NBPGR. "We preserve them by maintaining a
temperature of 4 degree centigrade and 30% relative humidity for medium-term
conservation of eight years. But, NBPGR has nearly 10, 2000 varieties of
different crops, including rice. It stores them by maintaining temperature of
-18 degree centigrade and 15% relative humidity for long-term conservation of
over 50 years," a CRRI scientist was quoted as saying.
A NBPGR official claimed that their stock with the CRRI includes 300 wild
varieties that belong to five rare species in the world. He noted that only 20
wild rice species have been identified in the world.
An official from SSTL told that they genetically cleanse indigenous rice
varieties so that their yield potential increases by 25% on an average.
"Each variety has over 62 traits and it is mandatory to analyze 29 and
report to PPV & FRA for its acceptance," another official from SSTL
was quoted as saying.
Usually NBPGR collects and stores up to 20 grams of a variety, the CRRI
collects up to 250 grams and SSTL collects 3 to 4 kilograms.
El Nino May Push Up Thai Rice
Prices in Second Half of 2015, Says Official
Jul
02, 2015
The Director-General of the Foreign Trade Department (Dg-FTD) under the
Commerce Ministry has noted that the Thai rice prices, which have fallen
significantly since the beginning of this year, are likely to increase in the
second half as El Nino weather pattern is expected to impact production in many
countries, according to Bloomberg.
Demand from China, Indonesia and the Philippines is also expected to
support prices. The price of Thai 5% broken white rice has increased by about
2.7% to around $375 per ton from around $365 per ton in first week of June.
The Commerce Ministry is putting up around 1.39 million tons of rice for
sale on July 7. It sold about 2.94 million tons of rice in the first
seven auctions since it took power in May 2014, raising about 30.2 billion baht
(around $894 million).
The Thai military government currently holds over 16 million tons of rice
in its warehouses and is planning to sell about 10 million tons this year about
six million tons next year. It also is planning to sell about 5.89 million tons
of spoilt rice to industrial users in July.
Thailand Rice Sellers Increase
Some of Their Quotes Today; Vietnam Rice Lower Some Quotes Today
Jul
02, 2015
Thailand rice sellers increased their quotes for 100% broken rice, 5%
broken rice and 25% broken rice each by about $5 per ton around $380-$390 per
ton, $370-$380 per ton and $350-$360 per ton respectively. They increased
quotes for parboiled rice by about $7 per ton to around $380-$390 per ton.
Vietnam rice sellers lowered their quotes for 5% broken rice by about $5 per
ton to around $345-$355 per ton. Other Asia rice sellers kept their quotes
mostly unchanged
today.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $370 - $380 per ton, up about $5
per ton from yesterday about a $25 per ton premium on Vietnam 5% rice shown at
around $345 - $355 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $380 - $390
per ton, unchanged from yesterday and about $5 per ton premium on Pakistan 5%
rice shown at around $375 - $385 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is shown at around $345 - $350 per ton, up about $5 per
ton from yesterday and about a $20 per ton premium on Vietnam 25% rice shown at
around $325- $335 per ton.
India 25% rice is indicated at around $350 - $360, about $15 per ton
premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $335 - $345 per ton.
Parboiled Rice
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $375 - $385 per ton, up
about a $5 per ton from yesterday. India parboiled rice is indicated at around
$365- $375per ton, unchanged from yesterday and about a $30 per ton discount to
Pakistan parboiled rice last shown at around $395 - $405 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super, is indicated at around $315 - $325 per ton,
about $5 per ton premium on Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $310 -
$320 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $275 - $285 per ton,
unchanged from yesterday and about a $15 per ton discount to Pakistan broken
sortexed rice shown at around $290 - $300 per ton.
UNISAME Urges Pakistan
Government to Speed Up Closure Process of QRC to Boost Rice Exports
Jul
02, 2015
The President of the Union of Small
and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the Commerce Ministry to speed up
the process of the closure of the Quality Review Committee (QRC) and help small
and medium rice exporters (SME), according to local sources.He noted that since
the Ministry has already decided to close the QRC as it has become futile and
its committee is not serving any purpose, it should direct the Trade
Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to disband the futile committee and
close the body immediately.
The UNISAME President also noted that the QRC has not been monitoring rice
quality in line with the buyers' needs. In most cases, it has been issuing
certificates for non-basmati as basmati to keep business going. For instance,
most of the buyers in the Middle East and Gulf nations prefer blended rice.
Some varieties of normal rice such as 1121 and 386 are mixed with basmati to
add a flavor of aroma. Such blended varieties are said to be classified as
basmati by the QRC and helping some exporters to sell this blended rice as
basmati and make more money. Therefore, the UNISAME President says SME rice
exporters who export genuine rice are facing difficulties. QRC is more a
hurdle than a monitoring body, he adds.
Pakistan has exported around 3.71 million tons of rice in the first eleven
months of FY 2014-15 (July 2014 - June 2015), up about 6% from around 3.49
million tons exported during the same period in FY 2013-14.
World Bank to Support Vietnam's
Rice Restructure Plan
Jul
02, 2015
The International Development Fund
(IDF) of the World Bank (WB) is providing Vietnam with a loan of $238 million
to support its agricultural restructuring plan, according to local sources.Vietnam
is particularly planning to reform its two major exporting sectors, rice and
coffee, under the plan, according to World Bank’s Lead Rural Development
Specialist and team leader for the project. He noted that Vietnam's rice sector
is characterized by unsustainable practices and high-volume but low-value
exports. The project aims to bring structural changes in the pattern of production
and the supply chain in order to benefit small-holder farmers.
The WB's credit is expected to
directly benefit about 200,000 rice producing households of about one million
people in the Mekong River Delta (MRD). The project will assist rice farmers in
the provinces of Kien Giang, An Giang, Hua Giang, Tien Giang, Can Tho, Soc
Trang, Dong Thap, and Long An to adopt latest on-farm practices and improved
basic production and processing technologies for producing high quality rice.Experts
have been advising the government to focus on high quality rice production in
order to increase the country's competitiveness in the global market.
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