India Identifies Alternative Variety To Basmati Rice

India has identified five new and improved varieties of rice for release in different agro-climatic zones of the country, a government statement said Friday. The newly developed rice varieties identified by Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, or ICAR, include "Pusa 1460" that has an even higher yield than "Pusa Basmati 1", the globally famous rice known for its long grains, flavor and aroma. 
 
ICAR is India's premier government-run institute on farm research. Pusa 1460 has a flowering duration of 103 days with quality features on a par with Basmati rice such as strong aroma, the statement said. "The new variety provides an alternative to the most popular Basmati variety, Pusa Basmati 1," the statement said. 
 
Unlike Basmati varieties, Pusa 1460 is resistant to bacterial leaf blight disease, it said. In the northern province of Haryana, Pusa 1460 recorded 28.6% higher yield than Pusa Basmati 1, the statement said.