Genetic and biochemical basis of scent in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary

The inheritance and biochemical basis of scent in rice was studied in the F₂ population along with the F₁ and its two parents, scented and non-scented ‘Pokura’ rice strains. The F₁ plants were found to be nonscented while the F₂ plants seggregated into a 3∶1 ratio (non-scented: scented). In scented F₂ seggregants and in the scented parental strain, a fast moving esterase isozyme, Rf 0.9, is missing whereas it is present in all nonscented F₂ seggregants, F₁s, and in the non-scented parent. This suggests that the absence of a specific esterase isozyme is associated with the scent character in rice.