Characteristics of popular rice landraces in Tamil Nadu

Insect-Pest and Disease

S. Common/ Characteristics and Medicinal Value and Duration Yield
Resistance/
No. Local Name Benefits Other Uses (Days) (t/ha)
Climate-Resilience
1 Kuli Vedichan Good for sandy clay, saline Drought, pest- and Good for lactating 110 2.4
and alkaline soils and disease-resistance women
coastal areas
2 Sooran Kuruvai Dark brown grain with Drought, flood and cyclone Reduces body weight 130–135 3.0
granular texture tolerance
3 KudaiVazhi Red rice with granular Suitable for water logging Cures digestive issues 120–125 3.5
texture, suitable for idly, drought and flood
dosa preparation conditions
4 Kalurundai Bold rice with yellow and Resistant to insect-pests Straw used for roof 120 3.5
black color strips. Good for and thatching purposes
saline soils. diseases; drought, flood
and
cyclone tolerance
5 Soolai Kuruvai Good in clay-loam and Suitable for irrigated and Straw used for cattle 130–140 2.8
coastal saline soils, bold and rainfed and drought, flood feed and roof
brown color grain. tolerance thatching
6 Val Sivappu Red rice, good for saline Drought, flood and cyclone - 145–150 2.3
sandy clay tolerance
7 Chinna Ponni Yellow color grain Drought- and flood- - 140 -
tolerant
8 Kichedi Samba Pale white color grain Resistant to pests, diseases, Good for some skin 140 2.8
drought and flood diseases
9 Vai Kunda Good for direct-sowing and Tolerant to drought, flood - 145–150 3.4
transplanting and weeds
10 Pichavari Good for direct-seeding and Tolerant to drought, flood - 110–120 4.8
transplanting and cyclone
11 Seeraga Samba Small fine grain. Useful for Drought, flood and cyclone It is an aromatic rice 120–130 3.7
biryani preparation. resistance
12 Vellai Kuruvai Kar Yellow color grain. Good for Insect-pest and disease, Good for meal, idli 120–135 3.5
direct sowing in upland drought and flood tolerance and dosa preparation
conditions
13 Mappilai Small ovular grain. Rich in Tolerant to drought, flood Treats mouth ulcers, 160 days -
Samba fiber and cyclone digestion disorders
and diabetes
14 Thuya Malli White grain with fine Pest and disease resistance Increases nerve 140 3.0
quality strength
15 Karuppukavuni Black rice suitable for It requires lower quantities Good for making 150–170 4.5
direct-sowing in red and of water having non- sweets
black soils, drylands lodging habits
16 Poongkar Tall cultivar, good for It grows well in rainfed It gives physical 80–90 1.0
coastal sandy and saline conditions strength
soils
17 Sigappukavuni Red rice contains high levels Drought tolerance Prevents heart 140 -
of anti-oxidants, rich in diseases, asthma and
vitamin B6 obesity
18 Muttakar Red rice with coarse quality Drought tolerant - 120 3.2
19 Neelan Samba Red rice with course quality Brown plant hopper- Good for lactating 175–180 -
(BPH) and earhead bug- women
resistant
20 Kavuni Black rice rich in iron and - Good food for - -
vitamin E. Good for making pregnant women
noodles and cakes
21 Pisini Red rice with coarse quality. Drought tolerant High level of 120 3.7
Good for making dosa, anthocyanin, an
porridge and aval antioxidant
22 Karudan Samba White rice with fine quality Pest and disease-resistant Gluten-free rice 165 3.4
23 Kaattuyanam Tall variety good for making Good for flood conditions Treats diabetes and 170 3.2
idly, dosa, flattened rice heart diseases
24 Kottara samba Red rice good for idly, dosa, Resistant to pests and High fiber, treats 150 -
and gruel purposes. Gluten diseases diabetics and helps to
free grain lower cholesterol
25 Kullakkar Good for idly, flake rice, Good for alkaline soils. High zinc and iron 90–105 3.0
dosa, vermicelli and Hardy plant, resistant to content. Lowers bad
porridge. pests and drought cholesterol and blood
sugar
26 Arupatham Kuruvai Red rice good in rainfed Suitable for all seasons. It Prevents diabetes and 60 -
areas. Useful for making can be cultivated five times good for heart health
idly, dosa, puttu and meals within a year and bones
27 Kaivara samba Small bold grain rice good Drought, flood, cyclone, Good for diabetic 140 3.4
for idly, dosa, and meals salinity, pest and disease Patients
resistance
28 Karunkuruvai Red rice useful in Siddha - Treats arthritis, 90–110 -
medicine. Removes elephantiasis and
impurities, toxins and chicken pox. Controls
controls bad cholesterol diabetes and improves
immunity
29 Kaalanamak Fine quality scented rice. Resistant to panicle blast. Treats diseases related - -
Easily digestible with longer Performs well in saline and to kidney, skin, blood
shelf-life. sodic soils of pH 9.0 to 9.5 and brain.
30 Pullangadu - - Good for diabetes and 90–110 -
treating paralytic
attacks

31 Perungar Good for preparing idly and Stem borer-, earhead bug- - 120–130 3.5
dosa resistant. Good for water
logging conditions
32 Samba Mozsanam Red rice with coarse quality Good for growing in Good for idly, dosa 160–165 4.5
good for dry-sowing and vicinity of lakes flattened rice
transplanting preparation
33 Vadan Samba Dull white grain with coarse Drought, pest/disease - 155–160 3.0
quality resistance
34 Sembalai Dull white grain Resistant to pests and - 100–105 2.8
diseases
35 Thang Samba Fine and long grain with - Improves condition of 150–165 3.7
 golden color skin
36 Kaliyan Samba Red rice Good in low laying areas Resistant to pests and 140 3.0
diseases
37 Puluthikaar Red color bold rice. Good for rainfed land and Resistant to drought 125–130 3.8
gardens
38 Kuthiraival samba Yellow rice Resistant to lodging, - 140–150 3.3
waterlogging, pest and
diseases
39 Chandikaar Good for black, red and Resistant to blight disease Fast growing nature - 2.0
saline soil and lodging

40 Kuliparichan Tall variety. In grain, outer Suitable for coastal sandy Cooked rice has long - 2.5
color is dark and inner is soils, drought-resistant shelf-life
white
41 Vellaiponni Fine grain quality Good for alkaline and Good for raw rice and - -
saline soils fodder
42 Norungan Rich in iron, magnesium - Regulates good 120 4.6
and vitamins cholesterol
43 Aathurkichili Small sized grain. Rich in - Ideal for meals. Good 150 3.6
calcium and iron for diabetics

44 Illupaipoo Samba White rice with fine Suitable for overcoming Treats paralysis and 105–135 -
quality natural calamities increased body heat,
diabetes and joint pains
45 Kuzhi Adhichan Red rice rich in antioxidants Good in saline soils, Good for lactating 120 -
and calcium resistant to women
drought
46 Sadakar Grown in sandy soils Pest- and disease-resistant - - -
(except leaf folders)
47 Kottuponni Red colored bold rice. Good Drought tolerant, pest- and Rich in protein, fiber 120–140 -
for inter-cropping with diseases-resistant and calcium
coconut and banana
48 Milagu Samba White and fine rice. - Controls joint pains, 115–130 -
Resembles pepper. Good for gives strength
making gruel
49 Salem Senna Long slender grain. Good - Good for bones, 135–140 2.5
for making gruel muscles and nerves
50 Sanna Samba Light brown rice Good in sandy clay soils Good for making idli 140 -
and dosa
51 Rasagadam White rice with fine quality Suitable for mountainous - 125 -
good for making pongal regions. Good in sandy
clay and alluvial soils
52 Kamban Samba Dull white rice with fine Good in clay soil and Good for making 120 -
quality suitable for SRI planting pongal
53 Varappukkodanchan Red rice good for rice gruel. Drought tolerance and pest Good energy 90–100 2.2
Good in rainfed farming. resistance supplement

54 Poovan Samba Red and bold rice - Good for food 150 -
consumption
55 Sempili Samba - Highly resistant to pests - 120 -
and diseases
56 Valaan Samba Good for women’s health, Resistant to pest and Strengthens pelvis 140 -
particularly pregnant women diseases bone. Supports
normal delivery
57 Rajamudi Good for making idly, dosa, Pest and disease resistance Gives high immunity 135–140
idiyappam, puttu and meals against diseases
58 Sornamusiri Scented rice, good for - It gives strength 150 -
biriyani preparations
59 Kanda Sali Aromatic rice good for Tolerance against floods, - 125 -
pongal preparation heavy winds
60 Sornavaari Good for idli, dosa Tolerant to drought - 120 -
preparation
61 Paal Kudavaalai Rich in antioxidants and Flood, pest and disease Good for diabetes, 130–145 -
fiber resistance intestine ailments and
constipation
62 Kaarnel Good for making idli, dosa - - 130 -
63 Kappakkar Brown rice good for making Good for clay soils Resistant to pests and 150–160 3.5
idly and dosa. diseases, drought and
waterlogging
64 Koompazhai Brown rice with coarse Good in sandy soil and Straw used for roofing 130–135 3.2
quality. waterlogged areas material
65 Sivappukuruvikaar Brown rice with coarse Resistant to pests and Heavy grain and good 125–130 -
quality. Good for making diseases. Good in sandy yielder. It delays
idly and dosa clay soils hunger.
66 Karuthakkaar Good fiber, manganese, It requires more water to Good for diabetes, 140 -
selenium and thiamin grow. Good in flood- heart health.
contents affected areas
67 Mathimuni Red rice of moderate quality Preferred cultivar in sandy Good for making 140–150 -
clay, clay and alluvial soils meals, idly and dosa
68 Ottadam Hill area cultivar Pest and disease resistance Raises energy levels 160–175 -
and alleviates tiredness
69 Navara - - Good for diabetes 140 -
patients, prevents
premature hair-loss,
rectifies basic illnesses
affecting circulatory,
respiratory and
digestive systems. Ideal
for anaemic patients.
(Source : Muralikrishnan et al., 2021)