Eating quality of promising rice Varieties evaluated at several locations in Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

Consumer acceptability assessment of rice varieties in different locations in PNG showed significant differences in the taste preferences for eight rice varieties (1-5 scale; 1-worst score, 5-best score). Commercially available ‘Trukai’ rice was the most preferred in almost all locations, with a mean score of 4.23. NR 1 (3.97) had good eating quality comparable with Trukai. Varieties NR 16 (3.75), FB-91 (3.67) and N6-94 (3.47) were moderately preferred while preference for NR 2, NR 4 and NR 15 was significantly lower. Significant differences were also observed between sites and in the variety x site interaction. Mean scores showed that consumers at Ramu (3.83) liked rice more than the other site tested, while those at Bogia (3.26) and Balama (3.28) gave the lowest mean scores. The variety x site interaction shows that the order of preference of rice varieties differed significantly between test sites, indicating that there are site-specific differences in consumer preference for rice varieties.