Nepal is considered one of the centers of diversity of Rice (Oryza sativa L.). A total of 1137
accessions of rice were characterized during 2010, 2011 and 2012 at National Agriculhire
Genetic Resources Centre (NAGRC), Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. Eight quantitative and 19
qualitative traits were recorded using rice descriptors Shannon-Weaver diversity indices (H')
was 0.92, 0.90, 0.90, 0.89, 0.86, 0.90, 0.88, 0.88, 0.67, 0.67 , 0.54, 0.69, 0.57, 0.55 , 0.74, 0.84,
0.85, 0.80 and 0.66 for days to head ing and maturity, plant height, panicle length, ligule
length, leaf length and width, grain length a11d width, blade pubescence, basal leaf sheath
color, flag leaf angle, culm angle, internode color, panicle exertion, shattering, awn color,
apiculus color and spikelet sterility respectively that revealed there is a great diversity in
Nepalese rice landraces. To exp lain 60% of the total variation, access ions were clustered in 36
clusters based on Gower's distance (quantitative and qualitat ive traits) and in 8 clusters only
based on Eucli dean's distance (quantitative traits). Rice landraces Seto marsi from Kaski,
Pakhe and Darmali from Lamjung, Anga and Jarneli from Rasuwa, Anadi from
Sindhupalchok and Jumli dhan and Kalo marsi from Jumla were found superior based on
preliminary evaluation of important traits yie ld, disease, grain texture and maturity and
considered to be important in crop improvement.

Nepal is considered one of the centers of diversity of Rice (Oryza sativa L.). A total of 1137
accessions of rice were characterized during 2010, 2011 and 2012 at National Agriculhire
Genetic Resources Centre (NAGRC), Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. Eight quantitative and 19
qualitative traits were recorded using rice descriptors Shannon-Weaver diversity indices (H')
was 0.92, 0.90, 0.90, 0.89, 0.86, 0.90, 0.88, 0.88, 0.67, 0.67 , 0.54, 0.69, 0.57, 0.55 , 0.74, 0.84,
0.85, 0.80 and 0.66 for days to head ing and maturity, plant height, panicle length, ligule
length, leaf length and width, grain length a11d width, blade pubescence, basal leaf sheath
color, flag leaf angle, culm angle, internode color, panicle exertion, shattering, awn color,
apiculus color and spikelet sterility respectively that revealed there is a great diversity in
Nepalese rice landraces. To exp lain 60% of the total variation, access ions were clustered in 36
clusters based on Gower's distance (quantitative and qualitat ive traits) and in 8 clusters only
based on Eucli dean's distance (quantitative traits). Rice landraces Seto marsi from Kaski,
Pakhe and Darmali from Lamjung, Anga and Jarneli from Rasuwa, Anadi from
Sindhupalchok and Jumli dhan and Kalo marsi from Jumla were found superior based on
preliminary evaluation of important traits yie ld, disease, grain texture and maturity and
considered to be important in crop improvement.