Genetic and biochemical basis of scent in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The inheritance and biochemical basis of scent in rice was studied in the F2 population along with the F1 and its two parents, scented and non-scented 'Pokura' rice strains. The F1 plants were found to be nonscented while the F2 plants seggregated into a 3∶1 ratio (non-scented: scented). In scented F2 seggregants and in the scented parental strain, a fast moving esterase isozyme, Rf 0.9, is missing whereas it is present in all nonscented F2 seggregants, F1s, and in the non-scented parent. This suggests that the absence of a specific esterase isozyme is associated with the scent character in rice.