Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a self-pollinated plant belonging to family Graminae (Poaceae).
Rice is a staple food of more than 60% of the world's population. Rice crop has great
importance, as it constitutes about 44% of total food grain production and about 49% of total
cereal production (Bisht and Pandey, 2005). At least 90% of the world's rice farmers and
consumers are in Asia, where rice provides up to 75% of dietary energy and protein for 2.5
billion people (Juliano, 1985). In India, rice is the most important and extensively grown food …