Abstract
Four Pakistani coarse rice varieties namely Irri-6, Irri-9, Sarshar and DR-83 were milled to obtain different
fractions viz. brown rice, white rice, polished rice, bran and polishing. Chemical components such as moisture,
ash, fat, fiber and NFE differed significantly due to differences in milling fractions as well as rice cultivars. The
highest protein content was observed in the rice cultivar Sarshar (8.80%) followed by Irri 6 (8.77%) while among
the different milling fraction, the maximum protein content was found in bran (11.71%). The highest ash content
was found in Sarshar (3.79%) whereas among different milling fractions it was higher in bran (6.04%). Mineral
contents were significantly higher in bran followed by polishing. Iron, zinc, manganese, copper contents ranged
from 0.59 to 3.98 mg/100g, 1.12 to 4.69 mg/100g, 0.51 to 5.12 mg/100g, 0.28 to1.69 mg/100g respectively among
different milling fractions. The mineral contents ranged from 1.57 to 1.94 mg/100g, 1.44 to 2.97 mg/100g, 1.57 to
2.33 mg/100g and 0.58 to 0.92 mg/100g among different varieties. Volume expansion ratio and water absorption
ratio was higher in Sarshar (3.15& 2.31) among varieties and in polished rice (3.50 & 2.65) among the fractions.
The rice varieties Sarshar and Irri-6 must be given more attention by the rice breeders to use in their hybridization
programs as these varieties exhibit more proteins and minerals which are required to maintain normal body
metabolism.
