Quality Evaluation of Various Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Varieties

Abstract

Oryza sativa L. generally known as Rice is found to one the oldest domestic available plant (crop) species that has been able to feed more people across the globe compared to all other available food crops. Being the most populace continent, Asia, is responsible for majority of the rice production across the world. Oryza sativa accounts for around 10% of total crop cultivated area in Pakistan, accounting for 6.1 percent of total agriculture value and 1.3 percent of GDP (gross domestic product). The samples of rice were prepared by using milling. The physical quality of the rice cultivars was calculated using micrometer by calculating length, breadth, thickness, L/B ratio and quality index. After physical analysis the samples were cooked and processed for the calculation of moisture, ash, alkali spreading, gel consistency and rice biscuits. The vitamin C and sugar levels of the rice cultivars samples were also determined. A length micrometer was used to determine the length of the rice types. Among the tested rice varieties GQTL-17 was determined to have highest length 6.69mm while that GQTL-33 was determined to have the lowest length that is 5.65mm. The average length for all the selected 50 cultivars was calculated to be 6.12mm. Similarly, the breadth was also determined for the selected varieties, among which GQTL-32 was found to have highest breadth of 2.45mm while lowest breadth was determined for GQTL-1.80. The average breadth was determined to be 2.1mm for all the selected samples. The selected 50 varieties of rice samples were subjected for calculation of thickness where GQTL-18 & GQTL-36 were having highest thickness of 1.86mm while that of GQTL-12 with 1.58mm was the lowest among the rice samples. Similarly, the average thickness calculated for all the selected rice varieties was 1.74mm. The selected rice varieties were then subjected for determination of length/breadth (L/B) ratio among which GQTL-13 cultivar was calculated to be the highest (3.50mm) while that of GQTL-2 (2.44mm) was the lowest. The average L/B ratio was calculated to be 2.85mm. The quality index of the rice cultivars was calculated among which GQTL-13 (2.11mm) was having highest quality index value while that GQTL-32 (1.36). The average quality index of all the rice samples was evaluated to 1.64mm. The moisture content determined in selected four rice samples were 10%- 12%. Among the selected breed GQTL-1368 (IR1) were found to have highest moisture content 12.66% followed by GQTL-1368 (IR2) having 12.18%. The least moisture content was determined for GQTL-1368 (43) (IR1) that is 10.70%. The ash content of the rice cultivars was calculated to be 0.33