Rice Cultivars (Oryza Sativa L) Susceptible to Iron Toxicity Have Poor Grain Nutritional Quality

Soil iron toxicity is a serious environmental problem of rice crop, grown in acid soils of Eastern India. We investigated the impact of higher iron in the soil on growth, yield and grain quality of three popularly grown rice varietiesMahsuri, Ranjit and Siyal Sali. Plants of these varieties were grown at control soil, +100 ppm, +200 ppm and +300 ppm levels of Fe. Ranjit and Siyal Sali recorded higher shoot Fe concentration with substantial reduction in growth and yield at 300ppm iron compared to Mahsuri. Grain yield was higher in Mahsuri accompanied by better yield attributing parameters at 300 ppm Fe. Total soluble protein, starch, and amylose contents in the grains were found to be unaltered in variety Mahsuri. These parameters were found to decline significantly in Ranjit and Siyal Sali at excess Fe. A significant impact of higher Fe in the growth medium on grain quality of rice is being observed in present investigation. The results show a negative impact of iron toxicity on the nutritional quality of the grains and a genotype tolerant to iron toxicity being also able to maintain good grain quality.