The major anthocyanin compositions of the two black scented rice cultivars (Chakhao Poireiton and Chakhao Amubi) were studied using HPLC. Four main anthocyanins, i.e., delphinidin 3-galactoside, delphinidin 3-arabinoside, cyanidin 3-galactoside and cyanidin 3-glucoside were identified in Chakhao Poireiton while three main anthocyanins, delphinidin 3-galactoside, delphinidin 3-arabinoside and cyanidin 3-galactoside were identified in Chakhao Amubi. In both the cultivars, delphinidin 3-galactoside is the most predominant anthocyanin. The total monomeric anthocyanin content and total phenolics were measured using a modified pH differential method and modified Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively. The total anthocyanin content in Chakhao Poireiton was found to be 740 mg/kg and Chakhao Amubi was 692 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside/kg of dried powder sample. And the total phenolic content was 577 and 500 mg/100 g of the dried powder sample as Gallic acid equivalent in Chakhao Poireiton and Chakhao Amubi, respectively. The anthocyanin extract showed strong antioxidant activity by DPPH assay, the highest scavenging activity of Chakhao Poireiton and Chakhao Amubi were 70.28 % and 69.73 %, respectively. From the study it can be suggested that supplementation of the black scented rice in the diet will have a great impact on human health. The rich anthocyanin and phenolic help to protect the plant from rice diseases and pests.

The Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia are hotspots of murine biodiversity, but no species from the Arakan Mountain system that demarcates the border between the two areas has been subjected to molecular phylogenetic analyses. We examined the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences in six murine species (the Rattus rattus species complex, R. norvegicus, R. nitidus, Berylmys manipulus, Niviventer sp. and Mus musculus) from Manipur, which is located at the western foot of the mountain range. The sequences of B. manipulus and Niviventer sp. examined here were distinct from available congeneric sequences in the databases, with sequence divergences of 10-15%. Substantial degrees of intrapopulation divergence were detected in R. nitidus and the R. rattus species complex from Manipur, implying ancient habitation of the species in this region, while the recent introduction by modern and prehistoric human activities was suggested for R. norvegicus and M. musculus, respectively. In the nuclear gene Mc1r, also analyzed here, the R. rattus species complex from Manipur was shown to possess allelic sequences related to those from the Indian subcontinent in addition to those from East Asia. These results not only fill gaps in the phylogenetic knowledge of each taxon examined but also provide valuable insight to better understand the biogeographic importance of the Arakan Mountain system in generating the species and genetic diversity of murine rodents.

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Eight parents of aromatic rice were crossed in half diallel mating design without reciprocal including parents. The parents were evaluated for eleven different characters. Genetic analysis was done through Griffing’s Method II Model I. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among parents and their crosses for all the characters. Combining ability analysis revealed that gca and sca variance were highly significant for most of the characters studied in F1 generation. Amongst the parental lines, Basmati Kasturi was a good general combiner for plant height at maturity, total number of spikelets per panicle, total number of filled grains per panicle and grain yield per plant in F1 generation while the most promising specific combiners for grain yield per plant were Basmati x Chakhao Angangba and Basmati Kasturi x Basmati 370.

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