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Kerala, the land of rich biodiversity, is a treasure of land races of many crops. The speciality rice varieties of Kerala include Pokkali (organic rice), Jeerakasala and Gandhakasala (scented rice varieties), Black Njavara and Golden Njavara (medicinal rice varieties). A study on the nutraceutical properties of these speciality rice varieties was made to understand their health benefits. Oil content in the rice bran and antioxidants like oryzanol, tocopherol and tocotrienol in the rice bran oil (RBO) of these rice varieties were estimated and compared apart from the quality and nutritional analysis of both rice and bran. The study revealed that the bran is rich in RBO and antioxidants like oryzanol, tocopherol and tocotrienol which may contribute to its high therapeutic value. The study recommends minimum polishing of these rice varieties during milling for consumption purpose. As the bran is rich in fibre and micronutrients like Fe, Cu, B and S, it should be utilized for the preparation of valueadded products like biscuits, baby foods, breads, etc. for healthy human consumption. The study envisages an urgent need for the utilization of the huge quantity of rice bran oil and as component of other food products.

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Rice varieties adapted to flash flood exhibit submergence tolerance by maintaining reduced shoot elongation under submerged conditions. This study focuses on the two main physiological traits leading to flash flood tolerance- high survival percentage with reduced shoot elongation under submergence and increased rate of alcoholic fermentation. Sub1introgressed BC3F2 lines exhibited higher survival percentage with moderate shoot elongation under submergence stress for fourteen days similar to the donor parent Swarna- Sub1. Enzymatic activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase were monitored for fourteen days under submergence stress. The developed Sub1 introgressed lines and the donor parent Swarna-Sub1 showed higher rates of alcohol dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase activities under submergence stress thereby maintaining optimum rates of alcoholic fermentation. The findings of this study confirmed the expression of tolerance mechanism in the Sub1introgressedJyothi Backcross Inbred lines under submergence stress.

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