Effect of nucleo-cytoplasmic interactions on the expression of quality characters in rice (Oryza sativa L.) hybrids

To study the effects of nucleo-cytoplasmic interactions on the expression of quality characteristics, critical comparisons were made between 11 CMS lines and their respective maintainers and between 30 A x R hybrids and 30 B x R hybrids for 14 quality traits. Since A and B lines are isogenic, the differences observed could be attributed to nucleo-cytoplasmic interactions. Hulling, milling and head rice recovery percentages were lower in A lines and A x R crosses as compared to their corresponding maintainers and B x R crosses. The negative effects of the male sterility inducing cytoplasm were also observed for kernel length, LJB ratio, kernel length after cooking and water uptake. Elongation ratio was found to be positively influenced by the sterility inducing cytoplasm. Nucleo-cytoplasmic effects for gelatinization temperature were cross specific. For gel consistency, the cytoplasmic effects were negligible. Most significant effect of the sterility inducing cytoplasm was the reduction in amylose content of A lines and A x R hybrids. The amylose content of those lines was 1–2% less than their corresponding B lines and B x R hybrids. Male sterility inducing cytoplasm had no effects on aroma.