DRR Dhan-62: Bacterial Blight and Blast Disease-Resistant Fine-grain Rice Variety (jointly developed along with ICAR-IIRR)

DRR Dhan-62, a derivative of Improved Samba Mahsuri (ISM, RP BIO226), is a mid-GI, bacterial blight and blast (fungal) disease-resistant fine-grain rice variety. DRR Dhan-62 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). DRR Dhan-62 possesses high yield (> 5.0 tonnes/ha), and superior grain-quality attributes (i.e. fine-grain type) similar to the highly popular mega-rice variety Samba Mahsuri (SM, BPT5204). Bacterial blight and blast are two major diseases of rice, and currently farmers use agrochemicals to control these diseases. Agrochemicals are harmful to human health and the environment, and also increase the input cost to rice cultivation. DRR Dhan-62 offers a valuable solution to both of these biotic stresses. Another advantage of DRR Dhan-62 rice is that it is not a transgenic plant, and farmers can save their pure seeds for subsequent use.

A bacterial blight and blast disease-resistant fine-grain rice variety.

• Resistant to bacterial blight disease of rice.
• Resistant to blast (fungal) disease of rice.
• Up to ~50% more yield under bacterial blight and blast disease conditions.
• Save input cost for farmers as harmful agrochemicals are not required for bacterial blight and blast diseases.
• Health and environment-friendly as harmful agrochemicals are not required for bacterial blight and blast diseases.
• 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).