Faced with the impacts of climate change which is leading to erratic rainfall events and intermittent drought-like conditions, Assam Agricultural University has come up with a drought-tolerant variety of rice – the first such variety by the research institution.
AAU-TTB Dhan-45: A Breakthrough in Drought-Tolerant Rice Varieties
After five years of dedicated research by the Titabor-based Rice Research Institute, the drought-tolerant rice variety AAU-TTB Dhan-45 has been developed.
This variety was created using marker-assisted backcrossing and incorporates three drought-tolerant QTLs (quantitative trait loci), which are specific DNA regions associated with drought resistance.
Characteristics:
Duration: AAU-TTB Dhan-45 is a short-duration variety with a cropping period of 100-110 days.
Yield: The variety has a potential yield of 4-4.5 tons per hectare.
Suitability: It has been tested across all six agro-climatic zones of Assam and demonstrated its ability to perform well under drought stress conditions with minimal yield loss.
Recommendations and Benefits:
In 2024, Assam Agricultural University recommended AAU-TTB Dhan-45 for cultivation throughout the state.
The climate-resilient nature of this variety is expected to mitigate the impacts of intermittent droughts in Assam, thereby promoting sustainable rice production.
Rice Production in Assam:
Rice is a major crop in the Northeastern region of India, with significant agricultural and traditional importance in Assam.
The state faces increased vulnerability to climate change, leading to erratic rainfall patterns and intermittent drought during critical crop growth stages.
Recent observations indicate that yields for the previously dominant submergence-tolerant Ranjit variety have declined from 5.5 tonnes to below 4 tonnes, primarily due to climate change impacts.
Assam Agricultural University had previously developed three submergence-resistant rice varieties, two of which are already cultivated on 2 lakh hectares of land in the state.
This development of AAU-TTB Dhan-45 represents a significant advancement in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and ensuring the stability of rice production in Assam.
