DRR Dhan-58: A Low GI, Climate-resilient (Bacterial Blight Disease-resistant and Seedling Stage Salinity Tolerant) Fine-grain Rice Variety (jointly developed along with ICAR-IIRR)

DRR Dhan-58, a derivative of Improved Samba Mahsuri (ISM, RP BIO226), is a low GI, climate resilient (bacterial blight disease-resistant, and seedling stage salinity-tolerant), fine-grain rice variety. DRR Dhan-58 was jointly developed by the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Hyderabad, and ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), Hyderabad, through the process of marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB), and it was dedicated to the Nation by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India on 28th September 2021. DRR Dhan-58 possesses high yield (~5.5 tonnes/ha), superior grain-quality attributes (i.e., fine-grain type) similar to the highly popular mega-variety Samba Mahsuri (SM, BPT5204), and has a high level of resistance against bacterial blight (BB) disease (caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae). DRR Dhan-58 is also tolerant to the seedling stage salinity, which is a common problem for rice cultivation in coastal areas of our country. Another advantage of DRR Dhan-58 rice is that it is not a transgenic plant, and farmers can save their pure seeds for subsequent use.

A low GI, climate-resilient (bacterial blight disease-resistant and seedling stage salinity tolerant) fine-grain rice variety.

• Resistant to bacterial blight disease of rice.
• Tolerant to seedling stage salinity conditions.
• Up to ~50% more yield under bacterial blight conditions.
• Up to ~24% more yield compared to other fine-grain rice varieties under coastal saline conditions.
• Diabetic-friendly rice [Low glycaemic index (GI value < 55)], reported by ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), Hyderabad, through a clinical study]
• High yielding (~5.5 tonnes/ha).
• Medium slender fine grain white rice similar to SM and ISM.
• Save input cost for farmers as it matures 10-15 days earlier (~130-135 days) than Samba Mahsuri rice (~140-145 days).
• Farmers can save their pure seeds for subsequent use (save input/seed cost).