වී පර්යේෂණ මධ්‍යස්ථානය අම්බලන්තොට

Main objectives of Rice Research Station, Ambalantota are the development of improved red pericarped rice varieties and salinity tolerant varieties. Much emphasis is paid for the development of high yielding and improved grain quality, Basmathi type and red and white samba, varieties. The station also has other responsibilities such as producing breeder seeds of recommended At varieties, conducting co-ordinated trials and finding solution to field problems of rice farmers in the region. Varietal Improvement About 86 crosses were made with the objective of developing varieties with high yielding and resistant to major pest and diseases with good grain quality. About 112 bulk populations were evaluated and 63 were selected for further evaluation. From F5 generation onwards about 1427 advanced progenies were established and 199 were selected for further evaluation as progenies and in trials. About 35 lines were selected for preliminary yield trials. Eighteen lines were selected and advanced from preliminary yield trials to evaluate in major yield trials (MYT). Two elite lines selected from MYT, At 668 and At 676, were nominated for coordinated Rice Varietal Testing (CRVT) programme, At 582 and At 570 were selected from CRVT for further evaluation in Varietal Adaptability trial programme. A high quality variety, At 306, released in 2004 by RRS, Ambalantota was selected to export by a private sector company due to its grain superiority.