TITLE:
Sensory Phenotypic and Molecular Identification of Aromatic Rice Accessions Cultivated in Benin
AUTHORS:
Chimène Nadège Mahoussi Nanoukon, Koffi David Montcho Hambada, Deless Edmond Fulgence Thiémélé, Bignon Meyrix Pamela Franzel Loumedjinon, Babatoundé Franel Carel Wenceslas Affolabi, Amed Sèmèvo Havivi, Kéllya Laurinzo Déguénon, Grâce Finagnon Vitoekpon, Arielle Bankole, Lambert Gustave Djedatin
KEYWORDS:
Aromatic Rice, 2-Acetyl-1-Pyrroline, SSR Markers, Benin
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.15 No.3,
March
22,
2024
ABSTRACT: Rice is one of the most
widely cultivated cereals in the world, and its aroma is increasingly in
demand. With the advancement of research, a major rice flavor gene has been identified on rice chromosome
8. It encodes non-functional betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase leading to
the accumulation of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline which is the major olfactory compound
that confers the fragrant character to rice. The aroma of rice is considered a
special trait of enormous economic importance that determines the prime price
in world trade. To satisfy the needs of the population and reduce rice imports
into Benin, we conducted this study to identify aromatic rice accessions grown
in Benin. Seventy-two rice accessions collected across Benin were PCR amplified
with three SSR markers RM 7049, Aro 7, and RM 223, linked to the fgr (fragrance
of rice) aroma gene. Molecular analysis revealed that 12 of the 72 accessions,
namely Bagou 19, Bagou 22, Tchaka 34, Foun 15, Tchaka 41, Nana 32, Kan 61, Kung
69, Kung 67, Bagou 20, Agbab 101 and Koum 55 possess the fgr gene and can be
considered as aromatic rice accessions. A sensory phenotypic test using KOH was carried out on rice accessions carrying fgr gene.
Of the twelve positives, only one had the smell of aromatic rice, like the
Azucena control. These results show that Benin also has aromatic rice varieties
that can be sold on national and international markets.