With the ever-increasing global demand for high quality rice in both local production regions and with Western consumers, we have a strong desire to understand better the importance of the different traits that make up the quality of the rice grain and obtain a full picture of rice quality demographics. Rice is by no means a ‘one size fits all’ crop. Regional preferences are not only striking, they drive the market and hence are of major economic importance in any rice breeding / improvement strategy. In this analysis, we have engaged local experts across the world to perform a full assessment of all the major rice quality trait characteristics and importantly, to determine how these are combined in the most preferred varieties for each of their regions. Physical as well as biochemical characteristics have been monitored and this has resulted in the identification of no less than 18 quality trait combinations. This complexity immediately reveals the extent of the specificity of consumer preference. Nevertheless, further assessment of these combinations at the variety level reveals that several groups still comprise varieties which consumers can readily identify as being different. This emphasises the shortcomings in the current tools we have available to assess rice quality and raises the issue of how we might correct for this in the future. Only with additional tools and research will we be able to define directed strategies for rice breeding which are able to combine important agronomic features with the demands of local consumers for specific quality attributes and hence, design new, improved crop varieties which will be awarded success in the global market.

Sago starch is usually chemically modified to overcome and improve the unstable properties of native sago starch during processing. In this study, sago starch was treated in hydrochloric acid in the presence of methanol, ethanol and 2-propanol at 45 0 C for 1 hour. Granule size, granular structure and solubility of the modified starch were investigated. Results showed that recovery yields of the modified starch were in excess of 57% with a maximum recovery of 94%, and the average granule size of the starch ranged from 24.8 to 30.1 µm. Images under light microscope revealed some internal fissures in starch granules after acid-alcohol treatment. Acid concentration had a pronounced effect on the degree of polymerization. The degree of polymerization progressively decreased as the carbon number of the alcohol increased. This study showed that sago starch can be modified through hydrolysis and alcoholysis to give various limit dextrins with high solubility.

Problem statement: There are numerous claims on varieties of Bario rice cultivars in Sarawak. Many of them might be synonyms or homonyms. This preliminary study was to differentiate Bario Rice cultivars using microsatellite molecular markers. Approach: Microsatellite marker panels distributed on all 12 chromosomes on rice genome were employed to study 8 Bario rice cultivars in Sarawak. Results: Current study indicated that the microsatellite panel were able to differentiate the 8 Bario rice cultivars. A total of 31 alleles were generated at 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci among the cultivars using the selected polymorphic SSR primer pairs with an average of 2.6 alleles per locus. Average PIC value obtained was 0.5204. An UPGMA dendrogram based on SSR polymorphism indicated high variation among the rice varieties with the coefficient ranging from 0.16 and 0.92. Genetic diversity determination using cluster analysis showed differentiation of rice cultivars into 2 major groups and several sub-groups. Conclusion: The SSR markers were useful for differentiating the genotypes and assessment of genetic relationships due to its reproducibility and to multiallelic, codominant and informative properties.

Problem statement: Rice is rich in complex carbohydrates and beneficial bioactive compounds such as γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), γ-oryzanol and vitamin. Several bioactive components are known to accumulate in rice during germination process. This study was to investigate the effect of germination process on γ-oryzanol levels in selected Sarawak local rice cultivars. Approach: Rice seeds were germinated for 4,8,12, 16, 18, 20 or 24 h at 25°C and samples were processed and analyzed for γ-oryzanol content. A partial extraction method was used for quantitative γ-oryzanol analysis. Results: Result showed γ-oryzanol concentrations in the rice cultivars varied from 0.099-0.340 mg g −1 on dry weight basis. Cultivars Udang Halus and Silah showed the highest concentration of γ-oryzanol after 16 h germination. Conclusion: The germination process exhibited diverse effects on the γ-oryzanol accumulation in rice and it was cultivar dependent.

Whole grains consumption promotes health benefits, but demonstrates controversial impacts from phytic acid in meeting requirements of good health. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the nutrient bioaccessibility and antioxidant properties of rice cultivars named "Adan" or "Bario" and deduce the nutritional impact of phytic acid. Majority of the dehusked rice in the collection showed an acceptable level of in-vitro starch digestibility and in-vitro protein digestibility, but were poor in antioxidant properties and bioaccessibility of minerals (Ca, Fe and Zn). The drawbacks identified in the rice cultivars were due to relatively high phytic acid content (2420.6 ± 94.6 mg/100 g) and low phenolic content (152.39 ± 18.84 μg GAE/g). The relationship between phytic acid content and mineral bioaccessibility was strongest in calcium (r = 0.60), followed by iron (r = 0.40) and zinc (r = 0.27). Phytic acid content did not significantly correlate with in-vitro starch digestibility and in-vitro protein digestibility but showed a weak relationship with antioxidant properties. These suggest that phytic acid could significantly impair the mineral bioaccessibility of dehusked rice, and also act as an important antioxidant in non-pigmented rice. Bario rice cultivars offered dehusked rice with wide range of in-vitro digestibility of starch and protein, and also pigmented rice as a good source of antioxidants. However, there is a need to reduce phytic acid content in dehusked rice for improved mineral bioaccessibility among Bario rice cultivars.