VTL 5: A high yielding salinity tolerant rice variety for the coastal saline ecosystems of Kerala

Abstract

VTL 5, a promising ‘Mahsuri’ mutant, was released in September 1996 for cultivation in the coastal saline ecosystems of Kerala. This variety has multiple tolerances to abiotic stresses such as salinity, acidity and submergence. It is a tall, medium duration, high yielding and white kernelled rice variety with good cooking quality. Average yield without chemical inputs is ~3500 kg ha-1. The variety is ideally suited for the pokkali lands of Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts where ‘organic farming’ practices are in vogue.