Evaluation of variability and environmental stability of grain quality and agronomic parameters of pigmented rice (O. sativa L.).

Eleven pigmented rice genotypes were evaluated to estimate genetic parameters, heritability and association. The results indicated that, genotypic variation was high among the lines. The distinct seasonal effect on plant performance for antioxidant capacity, anthocyanin, flavonoids, head rice recovery and test weights was also observed. Wet season favoured the crop performance in all genotypes as compared to drought conditions. The differential accumulation of different quality traits such as AOA, anthocyanin content, flavonoids content, etc showed high heritability, which would be transfer to high yeilding popular rice cultivars through conventional or geneticaly modification techniques. The line Mamihunger was chosen as donor of the high-quality rice grain and Annapurna for high yield. Further, Mamihunger are foreseen to be good in nutritional quality and industry use.