New Varieties of Basmati Rice

Current Context: Five new varieties of Basmati rice seeds developed in 2020 and 2021 by the scientists at the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) Director are set to bring sweeping changes in the way Basmati rice is cultivated in India.

• Three of the five varieties of Basmati rice seeds can resist two common diseases of paddy:

1. Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) disease
2. Blast (leaf and collar) disease

• New varieties with disease-resistant capabilities are:

1. Pusa Basmati 1847
2. Pusa Basmati 1885
3. Pusa Basmati 1886

• These three new varieties of Basmati seeds contain two genes each to resist BLB and blast disease.
• The other two varieties can be directly sown and save nearly 35% of the water required for sowing.
• In addition to this, these two varieties are herbicides too and will assist farmers to control weeds even more efficiently.
• Currently, Basmati rice is a GI product in seven states/UTs of India: Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Question:

Q.1 How many numbers of new varieties of Basmati rice seeds have been recently developed by the IARI?
a. 4
b. 5
c. 6
d. 7