Annamalai University has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Phillipines, for developing multiple stress-resistant rice varieties suitable for Tamil Nadu.
Matthew Morell, Director-General of IRRI, and N. Krishnamohan, Registrar, Annamalai University, signed the MoU on Tuesday. V. Murugesan, Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University, was present.
According to a release, multiple stress-tolerant rice germ plasm of advanced breeding lines would be shared by IRRI with the faculty of agriculture, Annamalai University, to take up breeding programmes. This would enable development of multiple stress resistant rice varieties suitable for Tamil Nadu. The MoU would permit research activities, exchange of students and faculties for doing research in rice varieties. The main objective of the MoU was to cater to the needs of farmers of the State to alleviate problems such as salinity, drought and biotic stress.
