Inheritance studies in red kernel rice ( Oryza sativa L.)

Inheritance of red kernel and hull colour were studied in eight crosses between white kernel/red kernel rice varieties viz., Karjat 4/Patni 6, Panvel 2/MO 17, Palghar 1/MO 8, Ratnagiri 5/TKM 9, Karjat 184/Munga, Karjat 6/Bela, Ratnagiri 24/Valai and Karjat 8/MO 8 during rabi 2013-14 using their parents, F1’s, F2’s and BC1, BC2 populations. Segregation pattern reveled that red kernel in rice is governed by one dominant gene in six crosses fitting the F2 chi square ratio 3:1 while as it was governed by two dominant gene in two crosses exhibiting F2 chi square ratio 9:7 which indicated complementary type of gene action and were confirmed in BC1F1 fitting chi square ratio 1:1 red kernel to white kernel ratio. The inheritance pattern of hull colour in six crosses; brown hull colour was dominant over straw hull colour; governed by two independent genes, one dominant and one recessive gene fitting F2 chi square ratio 13:3. Similarly, in two other crosses, brown hull colour was dominant over golden yellow and yellow hull colour fitting F2 chi square ratio 9:7 and governed by two dominant gene with complementary type gene action. The inheritance studies of red kernel rice are very important to bred biofortified rice varieties.