COLLECTION, EVALUATION AND DETERMINATION OF THE APPLICATION VALUE OF GENETIC RESOURCES OF ME VARIETY RICE ON LAND WITH TWO RICE CROPS A YEAR IN BINH THUAN PROVINCE

Abstract

Me variety rice is one of the traditional upland rice varieties which is cultivated by ethnic minority communities at mountainous comunes in Binh Thuan province. Because it has been cherished, its conservation and cultivation also are the noble mission of villiage elder, tribal chieft or the head of large families. The survey of genetic resources of Me variety rice at Phan Lam commune and Phan Son commune showed that there were four lines of Me varieties of rice were planted. They are Me Bong, Me Trang, Me Vang and Me Den. Me Bong variety has been widely cultivated by the K’Ho and Me Vang variety has been mostly cultivated by the Raglai. The genetic resources of Me varieties rice are traditionally cropped on garden land or high paddy fields. The total area was estimated at 2.5 - 3.0 ha and the yield is very low too (0.5 – 0.8 ton/ha). Becase of this circumstance, the quality of genetic resources of Me rice variety has been critically degraded and will be in the lost soon. After the harvest, the grain is retained for the next season. The remaining part is mostly used in special occasions such as holiday, worshipping ancestors, making a sacrifice to their gods. Me rice variety rice has distinct features and characteristics, large grain size (35 - 36 grams/1000 grains), opaque white color like sticky rice; the cooked rice is long, soft, spongy and has the aroma of cinnamon. The results of the value application of Me variety rice of genetic resource on the two season rice system considered that: after the Summer - Autumn season, from end of August to begin of September has been the most suitable for cropping Me rice variety. If we sow it at that time the yield will get 4 ton/ha and maintain the quantity of cooked rice. When Me variety rice is planted on the two season rice system, the productive effectiveness will be enhanced, their habit of cropping also will be changed correctly! This is the most important method to get the harmonious utility and to conserve the genetic resources Me rice variety sustainably for serving the ethnic minority communities’s cultural spirituality demand.