Mutagen-induced variability in protein characters in Oryza sativa

Study on mutational manipulation of protein characteristics in rice

A large number of induced mutants isolated from indica and japonica varieties of rice were screened for two different aspects of nutritive quality, namely crude protein content and protein distribution pattern in the endosperm. The study revealed a wide variation for both characteristics. There was no consistent relationship between protein content and test-grain weight or spikelet sterility. It appears from the present study that both these characteristics of protein are easily amenable to mutagen induced changes. The potential use of these characteristics in rice breeding is discussed.