Evaluation of Physicochemical and Cooking Characteristics of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Landraces of Lamjung and Tanahun Districts, Nepal

showing not much variability. Although most of them were of medium grain type, their 1000 kernel weight varied between 12.62 g and 25.65 g. From the observed chemical properties, Pahelo Anadi (9.73 ± 0.55 mm) showed the highest gel consistency and lowest apparent amylose content (7.23 ± 0.36%). Also, 13% of landraces possessed strong aroma while noble cooking properties were showed by Thakali Lahare Marsi with the highest elongation ratio (2.41 ± 0.05) and by Chiniya with the lowest gruel solid loss (0.033 ± 0.03%) and minimum optimum cooking time (23.45 ± 0.03 min). In the principal component analysis, the first four principal components retained 73.8% of the variance. The first and second principal components were mostly related with the physical and chemical characteristics while the third and fourth principal components were concerned with cooking characters. Superior characters possessed by rice landraces can be further assessed for the breeding programs so that the cultivation of these cherished rice landraces can be enhanced.