**5. The way forward: What do we need to do?**

vulnerability to virulent races of rice blast pathogen (*Magnaporthe grisea*). Therefore, these varieties were thrown out of cultivation, except in some small isolated pockets where these varieties are being grown as complex mixtures. These varieties fetch 5–6 times higher price in local markets than the commonly grown high yielding varieties. In view of this an attempt was made at MRCFC, Khudwani to purify the farmers bulks and identify superior pure lines of *Mushk budji* and *Kamad* with good quality and agronomic attributes to boost the income of farmers. Fifty-five single plant selections of *Mushk budji* and 64 single plant selections of *Kamad* were chosen from the farmers' fields in *kharif* 2008 and threshed separately to raise the head to row progeny during *kharif* 2009. Based on yield, disease and quality traits, 18 promising progenies of *Mushk budji* and *Kamad* were selected for further evaluation during *kharif* 2010. Out of 16 *Mushk budji* pure line selections made from 55 single plant selections collected from different areas of Kashmir valley, three selections were finally found to be at par with each other in terms of grain yield and aroma and were chosen for seed multiplication, while one *Kamad* line was selected for its seed multiplication. During *kharif* 2011 these lines were multiplied to produce nucleus seed, and evaluated for agro-physiological characters and distinguishing morphological descriptors. During *kharif* 2012 these were being multiplied for distribution among farmers. The *Mushk budji* seed was distributed at MRCFC Khudwani among the farmers of Sagam, Kokernag, and Batengu; while in districts of Budgam, Kulgam, and Pulwama it was distributed to farmers through the respective Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). However, not much success could be achieved in identifying blast tolerant genotypes among these accessions and blast resistance remained a challenge. A programme on Marker Assisted introgression of blast resistance genes (pita, pi54) in *Mushk budji* was introduced

52 Rediscovery of Landraces as a Resource for the Future

recently (2014) with some progress already achieved (personal communication).

As discussed earlier, a fruitful outcome of germplasm characterization was that some of the promising nutritive red rice types having colored pericarp were identified for evaluation, molecular intervention and biofortification. Preliminary evaluation of the 13 major red rice types viz., *Zag*, *Kupwara Zag*, *Uri Zag*, *Mir Zag*, *Khuch*, *Mir Sagi* and some other accessions (*GS 51, GS 80, GS 83, GS 224, GS 268, GS 289, GS 484*) was also completed for yield and agronomic traits (2011–2012). The biochemical and mineral contents (Iron & Zinc) of these landraces are

**Figure 6.** Evaluation, purification and selection of best genotype from *Zag*, *Mushk budji* and *Kamad* at MRCFC, Khudwani.

**4.2. Identification and evaluation of local red rice type land races**

being determined using modern techniques (**Figures 5** and **6**).

Rice is cultivated in different agro-ecological regions of J&K, comprising sub-tropical area >1000 m amsl of Jammu region; mid altitude areas (1000 to <1650 m amsl) of Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts; temperate or valley basin area (1650 to 1900 m amsl) and cold high altitude areas (>1950 to 2400 m amsl) of mountainous terrain of Kashmir. Nearly 10–12% of total rice cultivated area of the valley falls in the higher altitude region. The population of this region lives in harsher climate and difficult hilly/mountainous terrain. The farmers in this region still grow old non-descript varieties/cultivars which have poor yield potential and are susceptible to Paddy blast. Low temperature and very short summer months reduce yield and affect nutrient availability/mobilization rate from the soil. These are a big impediment to the introduction of varieties from mainland India, most of which thrive well under subtropical conditions [17]. Attempts were made in the past to develop high yielding cold tolerant rice varieties like Barkat, K332, Kohsar etc. [1, 15, 16]. Similarly, an innovative programme on development of a hybrid rice was started at SKUAST (K), Khudwani, after procuring cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines and their maintainers from various institutions such as the International Rice Research Institute (Philippines), Directorate of Rice Research (Hyderabad), Central Rice Research Institute (Cuttack), and Punjab Agricultural University (Ludhiana). Studies on the performance of these CMS and maintainer lines (of tropical and subtropical regions) for various agro-morphological traits under temperate conditions of Kashmir revealed that these lines, because of poor phenotypic acceptability, cannot be used to develop experimental hybrids [18]. In addition, a good number of hybrids released in India were also evaluated along with their parental lines under temperate conditions and were found to be not suitable for cultivation in such an environment [19]. Thus, efforts were made to develop new CMS lines in the background of agronomically adapted and popular varieties of the region in order to fully exploit this technology. This led to the development of two coldtolerant CMS lines suitable for Kashmir Himalayas [19]. These CMS lines were then successfully employed for development of medium-bold rice hybrids with good grain quality for Kashmir Himalayas [20].

The challenges to nutritional and food security need to be addressed. At the same time weightage of an equal measure needs to be given towards the conservation and utilization of rice genetic diversity. This can be done using a multi-pronged strategy involving the following:

#### **5.1. Conservation and rejuvenation**

Most of locally adapted aromatic and non-aromatic rice genotypes have evolved as a consequence of natural and human selection, and are highly adapted to specific ecological niches carrying the genes for adaptability, early maturity and cold tolerance. These genotypes, having evolved under specific ecological niches of Kashmir carry combined adaptive traits for such difficult ecological regime, and are not much amenable to high input agriculture. Therefore, these need to conserved/maintained, and periodically cultivated for evaluation under resource poor and marginal conditions of far flung areas.

Conservation should aim to preserve all of the genetic variation that is available in a population, and is best insured by seed rejuvenation in an environment as similar as the native habitat of the population. On the contrary, evaluation should aim at the identification and isolation of obviously useful genotypes, involving selection and purification in the process. Splitting of original stocks into pure lines, and repeated seed increase cycles, are adjuncts of evaluation and utilization. Conservation maintains the germplasm inputs, while evaluation and utilization make these conservation efforts worthwhile. The dynamics of any crop needs to be understood prior to initiating any on-farm conservation and utilization programme. The conventional approach so far has been to transfer technologies generated elsewhere to the farmers. But such an approach has not only been less efficient in the adoption of the technologies by the farmers, but has also led to replacement or erosion of local genetic resources. This raises the question of how to generate relevant and farmer preferred technologies, while attempting to conserve, manage and utilize the rice diversity at community level.

Can participatory plant breeding be a guiding principle for redesigning/revitalizing the landraces to suit modern times? And can participatory varietal selection help in conserving the landraces in pure form wherever they fit farmers' criteria and consumers' preferences.

**5.3. Value addition and promotion of domestic/international trade**

local landraces.

zinc etc., and promote their commercialization as 'speciality rices'.

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India (**Figure 8**).

Many landraces, mostly of *japonica* background, are known for their superior agro-morphological and quality traits like taste, aroma, texture, colored aleurone, early maturity and cold tolerance. Notable among them are *Mushk budji*, *Kamad*, *Nun beoul*, *Laer beoul*, *Zag* and *Khuch*. While their collection, characterization and conservation in hot spots of the valley is important from genetic point of view, their purification and commercialization is of special importance from the farmers' perspective of livelihood security. Therefore, there is an urgent need to add value to these landraces by enriching them with minerals and micronutrients like iron,

**Figure 7.** Participatory varietal selection (PVS) could be a good strategy for evaluation, dispersion and distribution of

Rice Biodiversity in Cold Hill Zones of Kashmir Himalayas and Conservation of Its Landraces

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.74591

55

Further, scientific studies on aromatic rice of Kashmir have not given ample attention to their domestic trade in the past, despite the fact that scented rice varieties have competitive international price and the state can earn foreign exchange from them. However, in the present decade Ministry of Agriculture, Government of J&K has keenly supported the promotion and revival of these varieties. The Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, has permitted export of *Sarveshwar* Basmati of Jammu & Kashmir to USA, Jordan and Saudi Arabia so that the farmers of the state could get benefited [2]. In order to further the cause it is important for the farmers, scientists, policymakers and environmentalists to understand the pattern of domestic trade of aromatic rices at the micro level to address the basic issues of promoting their cultivation, production and export. The marketing and price-spread patterns of aromatic rices of Jammu and Kashmir like *Mushk budji*, *Kamad*, Ranbir basmati have to be examined and policy interventions suggested with regard to their production and trade in the state. A beginning in this direction was made in the year 2012 by setting up demonstrative plots of *Mushk budji* and *Kamad* on an area of 0.8 ha in Sagam, and cultivated by local farmers under the guidance of SKUAST-K. The revival programme was a huge success. The landrace *Mushk budji* was released by Hon'ble Governor J&K at 3rd Agricultural Science Congress of J&K (2014) under Public Private partnership mode by SKUAST-K and Sarveshwar Overseas Ltd. The farmers that were involved in the programme bagged the Plant Genome Savior Community Award (2016) from Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority,

#### **5.2. Participatory plant breeding and participatory varietal selection**

There is a serious concern among the farmers, scientists, policymakers and environmentalists regarding continuous erosion of genetic biodiversity. When uniformity becomes the cause of genetic vulnerability, genetic diversity is the only insurance against it. In the era of climate change complex biotic and abiotic stresses shall cause the high yielding varieties succumb and lose their comparative economic advantage. The crisis is further expected to deepen in scope as well as intensity, when pressure due to population increase and urbanization causes shrinkage in rice area, as well as shift in rice cultivation towards newer areas with untested soil types, different climatic patterns, and new pathogenic interactions. Under these circumstances, can local landraces be a part of the solution?

Although many landraces are preserved by breeders in seed banks, farmers do not have access to these for cultivation. Moreover, preservation in seed banks does not allow these landraces to adapt to changing environmental settings and changing agricultural practices. In order to address both these issues and meet the challenges (discussed in above paragraph), systematic screening of the desired rice types by local farmers of an area, through participatory varietal selection (PVS), can lead to useful site-specific introductions [21]. In this perspective it may be renamed as participatory varietal dispersal (PVD), and can lead to high seed replacement rate. PVS will also generate wealth of information about the (a) farmer preferred traits, and (b) trade-off between traits, which can then be followed by participatory plant breeding (PPB) for incorporating such useful traits/genes into the existing varieties and landraces. This would ensure genetic diversity on ground, and guarantee sustained levels of high productivity (**Figure 7**).

Rice Biodiversity in Cold Hill Zones of Kashmir Himalayas and Conservation of Its Landraces http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.74591 55

**Figure 7.** Participatory varietal selection (PVS) could be a good strategy for evaluation, dispersion and distribution of local landraces.

#### **5.3. Value addition and promotion of domestic/international trade**

Conservation should aim to preserve all of the genetic variation that is available in a population, and is best insured by seed rejuvenation in an environment as similar as the native habitat of the population. On the contrary, evaluation should aim at the identification and isolation of obviously useful genotypes, involving selection and purification in the process. Splitting of original stocks into pure lines, and repeated seed increase cycles, are adjuncts of evaluation and utilization. Conservation maintains the germplasm inputs, while evaluation and utilization make these conservation efforts worthwhile. The dynamics of any crop needs to be understood prior to initiating any on-farm conservation and utilization programme. The conventional approach so far has been to transfer technologies generated elsewhere to the farmers. But such an approach has not only been less efficient in the adoption of the technologies by the farmers, but has also led to replacement or erosion of local genetic resources. This raises the question of how to generate relevant and farmer preferred technologies, while attempting to conserve, manage and utilize the rice diversity at com-

Can participatory plant breeding be a guiding principle for redesigning/revitalizing the landraces to suit modern times? And can participatory varietal selection help in conserving the landraces in pure form wherever they fit farmers' criteria and consumers'

There is a serious concern among the farmers, scientists, policymakers and environmentalists regarding continuous erosion of genetic biodiversity. When uniformity becomes the cause of genetic vulnerability, genetic diversity is the only insurance against it. In the era of climate change complex biotic and abiotic stresses shall cause the high yielding varieties succumb and lose their comparative economic advantage. The crisis is further expected to deepen in scope as well as intensity, when pressure due to population increase and urbanization causes shrinkage in rice area, as well as shift in rice cultivation towards newer areas with untested soil types, different climatic patterns, and new pathogenic interactions. Under these circum-

Although many landraces are preserved by breeders in seed banks, farmers do not have access to these for cultivation. Moreover, preservation in seed banks does not allow these landraces to adapt to changing environmental settings and changing agricultural practices. In order to address both these issues and meet the challenges (discussed in above paragraph), systematic screening of the desired rice types by local farmers of an area, through participatory varietal selection (PVS), can lead to useful site-specific introductions [21]. In this perspective it may be renamed as participatory varietal dispersal (PVD), and can lead to high seed replacement rate. PVS will also generate wealth of information about the (a) farmer preferred traits, and (b) trade-off between traits, which can then be followed by participatory plant breeding (PPB) for incorporating such useful traits/genes into the existing varieties and landraces. This would ensure genetic diversity on ground, and guarantee sustained levels of high

**5.2. Participatory plant breeding and participatory varietal selection**

stances, can local landraces be a part of the solution?

munity level.

54 Rediscovery of Landraces as a Resource for the Future

preferences.

productivity (**Figure 7**).

Many landraces, mostly of *japonica* background, are known for their superior agro-morphological and quality traits like taste, aroma, texture, colored aleurone, early maturity and cold tolerance. Notable among them are *Mushk budji*, *Kamad*, *Nun beoul*, *Laer beoul*, *Zag* and *Khuch*. While their collection, characterization and conservation in hot spots of the valley is important from genetic point of view, their purification and commercialization is of special importance from the farmers' perspective of livelihood security. Therefore, there is an urgent need to add value to these landraces by enriching them with minerals and micronutrients like iron, zinc etc., and promote their commercialization as 'speciality rices'.

Further, scientific studies on aromatic rice of Kashmir have not given ample attention to their domestic trade in the past, despite the fact that scented rice varieties have competitive international price and the state can earn foreign exchange from them. However, in the present decade Ministry of Agriculture, Government of J&K has keenly supported the promotion and revival of these varieties. The Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, has permitted export of *Sarveshwar* Basmati of Jammu & Kashmir to USA, Jordan and Saudi Arabia so that the farmers of the state could get benefited [2]. In order to further the cause it is important for the farmers, scientists, policymakers and environmentalists to understand the pattern of domestic trade of aromatic rices at the micro level to address the basic issues of promoting their cultivation, production and export. The marketing and price-spread patterns of aromatic rices of Jammu and Kashmir like *Mushk budji*, *Kamad*, Ranbir basmati have to be examined and policy interventions suggested with regard to their production and trade in the state. A beginning in this direction was made in the year 2012 by setting up demonstrative plots of *Mushk budji* and *Kamad* on an area of 0.8 ha in Sagam, and cultivated by local farmers under the guidance of SKUAST-K. The revival programme was a huge success. The landrace *Mushk budji* was released by Hon'ble Governor J&K at 3rd Agricultural Science Congress of J&K (2014) under Public Private partnership mode by SKUAST-K and Sarveshwar Overseas Ltd. The farmers that were involved in the programme bagged the Plant Genome Savior Community Award (2016) from Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India (**Figure 8**).

Kashmir is quite pronounced, with zinc content ranging between 30 and 80 mg/kg and iron

Rice Biodiversity in Cold Hill Zones of Kashmir Himalayas and Conservation of Its Landraces

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.74591

57

The current prevalence of milled rice on the market reduces the rice's nutritional value and essentially turns it into a simple carbohydrate food. Therefore, in addition to developing more nutritious varieties, awareness of the benefits of eating brown rice should be raised among rice consumers. Such a combined approach would ultimately result in a sustainable enhance-

Rice is a diverse crop that grows in different ecosystems. Genomics-based strategies for gene discovery, coupled with the validation of transgenes by genetic transformation, have accelerated the identification of candidate genes from this broad genetic diversity. It is therefore important to explore landraces as well as wild rice species, and characterize their genes for further use rather than storing them in gene banks. Current gene revolution has broadened the scope for the application of biotechnology in rice, across ecosystems and genetic barriers. In order to prevent biopiracy policymakers should look into the potential use of biotechnology in safeguarding intellectual property rights of rice farmers and scientists by promotion of

With accumulation of genes from a few elite parental lines in the current generation rice varieties, the genetic base has plateaued leading to comparatively lower genetic gains over the existing high yielding varieties. The primary attention of converging genes for yield and yield component traits needs to be diversified. Grain quality and physiological traits like cold tolerance, thermosensitivity, source-sink relationship and harvest index, lodging resistance, better nutrient absorption, efficient number of productive tillers per hill, etc. have not been explored biotechnologically to generate meaningful results for higher and sustainable crop yields in

**5.7. Combining high yields with high nutritional value through molecular breeding** 

The immense genetic diversity in rice landraces is reflected by their multiplicity of nutritional characteristics. Suitable rice varieties exist for enhancing the supply of various nutrients, including protein, essential lipids, certain minerals, and to some extent β- carotene also. The diversity of such favorable nutritional characteristics is not represented in most of the widespread HYVs currently prevailing in Kashmir. These HYVs have been developed mainly to optimize the quantitative yields, and not the nutritional value. The high nutritional quality of rice landraces can form a solid base for changing priorities in rice breeding, putting more emphasis on the grain nutritional value. In order to meet the targets of nutritional security and food security, biotechnology and molecular breeding techniques, like marker-assisted selection, marker-assisted backcrossing, and genetic transformation need to be employed for accelerating the development of more nutritious rice varieties. Combining high yields and high grain nutritional value thus appears to be possible through these molecular interventions.

content between 16 and 55 mg/kg.

rice under Kashmir conditions.

**and biotechnology**

ment of the essential nutrient supply in rice-based diets.

**5.6. Gene mining using genomics and biotechnological approaches**

finger-printing technologies for molecular characterization of rice germplasm.

**Figure 8.** a) Award ceremony; b) Flow chart showing strategy for enhancing market 'value' of local landraces.

#### **5.4. Production of organic rice**

The continuous cultivation of only a few select rice varieties has led to the loss of genetic diversity of landraces. Although many landraces are preserved in seed banks these are not accessible to the farmers. Ensuring genetic diversity requires that rice landraces are cultivated continuously, and not simply stored in seed banks. In view of a preferred shift towards organic cultivation, and consumers' readiness to pay higher price for organically cultivated rice, the scope of traditional rice landraces has increased tremendously. Earlier HYVs enjoyed a distinct advantage, owing to their being fertilizer responsive, but under organic cultivation these are bound to lose the yield advantage. Therefore on-farm cultivation of landraces organically shall not only be a profitable economic enterprise for the farmer but would also lead to their conservation and adaptation. This process would be dynamic, i.e. the landraces would get subjected to continuous selection by the farmers, and would thus be allowed to develop and evolve.

The challenges in production of organic rice would however be in the form of 'paddy blast' and 'weed growth', both of which are currently controlled by chemical intervention.

#### **5.5. Promotion of brown rice**

As rice bran contains up to 20% lipids, this makes brown rice susceptible to rancidity. In earlier times, rancidity due to these rice lipids was prevented by removing the hull shortly before its consumption, and thus protecting it from oxidation. Rice (with bran) could then be stored for about 1 year, without leading to rancidity. Rice bran is characterized by high nutritional value. It contains high proportion (nearly 80%) of unsaturated fatty acids, which are known to have blood cholesterol lowering effects. The major unsaturated fatty acids in rice are oleic acid (a monounsaturated acid) and linoleic acid (an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid), and these are not synthesized in humans and therefore need to be taken from outside. These lipids play important roles in cell membrane function and functioning of the nervous system. The consumers' preference for milled rice has further reduced the availability of iron and zinc substantially in their diet. The variability in mineral content among different rice landraces of Kashmir is quite pronounced, with zinc content ranging between 30 and 80 mg/kg and iron content between 16 and 55 mg/kg.

The current prevalence of milled rice on the market reduces the rice's nutritional value and essentially turns it into a simple carbohydrate food. Therefore, in addition to developing more nutritious varieties, awareness of the benefits of eating brown rice should be raised among rice consumers. Such a combined approach would ultimately result in a sustainable enhancement of the essential nutrient supply in rice-based diets.

#### **5.6. Gene mining using genomics and biotechnological approaches**

**5.4. Production of organic rice**

56 Rediscovery of Landraces as a Resource for the Future

develop and evolve.

**5.5. Promotion of brown rice**

The continuous cultivation of only a few select rice varieties has led to the loss of genetic diversity of landraces. Although many landraces are preserved in seed banks these are not accessible to the farmers. Ensuring genetic diversity requires that rice landraces are cultivated continuously, and not simply stored in seed banks. In view of a preferred shift towards organic cultivation, and consumers' readiness to pay higher price for organically cultivated rice, the scope of traditional rice landraces has increased tremendously. Earlier HYVs enjoyed a distinct advantage, owing to their being fertilizer responsive, but under organic cultivation these are bound to lose the yield advantage. Therefore on-farm cultivation of landraces organically shall not only be a profitable economic enterprise for the farmer but would also lead to their conservation and adaptation. This process would be dynamic, i.e. the landraces would get subjected to continuous selection by the farmers, and would thus be allowed to

**Figure 8.** a) Award ceremony; b) Flow chart showing strategy for enhancing market 'value' of local landraces.

The challenges in production of organic rice would however be in the form of 'paddy blast'

As rice bran contains up to 20% lipids, this makes brown rice susceptible to rancidity. In earlier times, rancidity due to these rice lipids was prevented by removing the hull shortly before its consumption, and thus protecting it from oxidation. Rice (with bran) could then be stored for about 1 year, without leading to rancidity. Rice bran is characterized by high nutritional value. It contains high proportion (nearly 80%) of unsaturated fatty acids, which are known to have blood cholesterol lowering effects. The major unsaturated fatty acids in rice are oleic acid (a monounsaturated acid) and linoleic acid (an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid), and these are not synthesized in humans and therefore need to be taken from outside. These lipids play important roles in cell membrane function and functioning of the nervous system. The consumers' preference for milled rice has further reduced the availability of iron and zinc substantially in their diet. The variability in mineral content among different rice landraces of

and 'weed growth', both of which are currently controlled by chemical intervention.

Rice is a diverse crop that grows in different ecosystems. Genomics-based strategies for gene discovery, coupled with the validation of transgenes by genetic transformation, have accelerated the identification of candidate genes from this broad genetic diversity. It is therefore important to explore landraces as well as wild rice species, and characterize their genes for further use rather than storing them in gene banks. Current gene revolution has broadened the scope for the application of biotechnology in rice, across ecosystems and genetic barriers. In order to prevent biopiracy policymakers should look into the potential use of biotechnology in safeguarding intellectual property rights of rice farmers and scientists by promotion of finger-printing technologies for molecular characterization of rice germplasm.

With accumulation of genes from a few elite parental lines in the current generation rice varieties, the genetic base has plateaued leading to comparatively lower genetic gains over the existing high yielding varieties. The primary attention of converging genes for yield and yield component traits needs to be diversified. Grain quality and physiological traits like cold tolerance, thermosensitivity, source-sink relationship and harvest index, lodging resistance, better nutrient absorption, efficient number of productive tillers per hill, etc. have not been explored biotechnologically to generate meaningful results for higher and sustainable crop yields in rice under Kashmir conditions.

## **5.7. Combining high yields with high nutritional value through molecular breeding and biotechnology**

The immense genetic diversity in rice landraces is reflected by their multiplicity of nutritional characteristics. Suitable rice varieties exist for enhancing the supply of various nutrients, including protein, essential lipids, certain minerals, and to some extent β- carotene also. The diversity of such favorable nutritional characteristics is not represented in most of the widespread HYVs currently prevailing in Kashmir. These HYVs have been developed mainly to optimize the quantitative yields, and not the nutritional value. The high nutritional quality of rice landraces can form a solid base for changing priorities in rice breeding, putting more emphasis on the grain nutritional value. In order to meet the targets of nutritional security and food security, biotechnology and molecular breeding techniques, like marker-assisted selection, marker-assisted backcrossing, and genetic transformation need to be employed for accelerating the development of more nutritious rice varieties. Combining high yields and high grain nutritional value thus appears to be possible through these molecular interventions.
