Crop Improvement
Crop Improvement
From the date of inception, fourteen rice varieties have been evolved from Rice Research Station, Tirur. Earlier attempts were mostly concentrated on improving the local rice through selection. The varieties TKM 1, TKM 2, TKM 3, TKM 4, TKM 5 are pureline selections from the local varieties Pisini, Sembalai, Local sornavari, Yerra sannavadlu, Local manakkattai respectively. The variety TKM 6 locally called as Sanna sornavari is a hybrid derivative of the cross GEB 24 / Co18 and was released during 1952. TKM 7 was developed as pureline selection from the local type Kullakar and was released during 1973. TKM 8 is a cross derivative of TKM 6 and TN (1). TKM 6 and TKM 8 are known for its excellent cooking quality. The red rice variety TKM 9, a hybrid derivative of the cross TKM 7 / IR 8 is yet another high yielding rice variety released from this station. Blast and BPH resistant variety TKM 10 was developed during 1992 from the parental lines Co 31 / C 22. The varieties TKM 11 and TKM (R) 12 were released during 1998 and 2002 respectively and have the capacity to rejuvenate after rain and showed response even to low fertilizer applications. TKM 13 and TM 07278 are the recently released rice varieties and the cross derivatives of WGL 32100 / Swarna.
Rice variety: TKM 6
The variety TKM 6 released from this research station is a cross between the first fine grain rice variety GEB 24 and Co 18. This variety attained global importance for its multiple resistance and widely used as a good donor in most of the hybridization programmes in International Rice Research Institute, Manila, Philippines in view of being fine grain quality coupled with resistance to Stem borer, Green Leaf Hopper, Brown Plant Hopper, Leaf folder, Thrips, Bacterial Leaf Blight, Rice Tungro Virus and Grassy Stunt resulted in new IRRI varieties viz., IR 20, IR 26, IR 30, IR 32, IR 38 and IR 40. To honor this variety, a monument was installed at IRRI. In India, this variety was used by the rice breeders and high yielding varieties such as TKM 8, Co 35, Ratna, PUSA 2-21 (Kannagi), Suma, Madhu, Parijat, Vikas, Saket 4, Ramakrishna, Sasysree were developed.
Rice variety: TKM 9
The variety TKM 9, a hybrid derivative of the cross TKM 7 / IR 8, is yet another high yielding rice variety released from this station which has performed wonderfully both under semidry and wet conditions throughout Tamil Nadu. TKM 9 popularly known as red rice is grown in major areas of Thiruvallur, Kanyakumari, Nagapattinum, Thtanjavur and Thtiruvarur districts and also larger area in Kerala. During the State Agriculture Department Centenary celebrations held during November, 1981, a momento was presented by the Thanjavur farmers for the release of this variety.
Rice variety: TKM 13
Medium duration fine grain rice variety TKM 13 (WGL 32100 / Swarna) was released by this Station in the year 2015. This variety is suitable for samba season (August-September sowing) and matures in 130 days. It has recorded a overall mean grain yield of 5938 kg/ha in 159 locations which was 6.2 and 10.1 per cent increase over the check varieties CO (R) 49 (5592 kg/ha) and BPT 5204 (5390 kg/ha) respectively. It is moderately resistant to leaf folder, stem borer, GLH, blast, RTD, brown spot and sheath rot. This variety attainedfarmer’s preference because of having more tillers, densely packed grains, free from pests and diseases at field condition, less duration (7-10 days earlier) than BPT 5204, acceptable milling and cooking quality characters and good market price as that of BPT 5204.In National trials conducted in 101 locations, TKM 13 has recorded a grain yield of 5201 kg/ha which was 11.2 per cent increase over the national check variety IR 64. In the year 2017, based on its superior performance, the variety was released by Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC) for the western states viz., Gujarat and Maharashtra .
