Variability of amino acid content in seed of some wild and cultivated species of Oryza [rice]

The reserve seed protein composition of thirteen species of Oryza including two cultivated rice O. sativa L. and O. glaberrima Steud and the two principal geographical races of the former, indica and japonica has been studied using Amino Acid Analyser to assess the differences in the profiles of cultivated and wild species. The species differed from each other significantly for the different amino acid contents. Further, the results suggested a wide range of variability for essential amino acids like lysine among the Oryza species (upto 44% in certain wild species as against 3·5% in cultivars), which is of interest to rice breeders. The possible utilization of the wild species in breeding for superior protein quality in rice is suggested.