Abstract:
Thirty-eight rice varieties, grown in Low Country Wet Zone, during Yala (2006) and Maha (2006 . 2007)
seasons were screened for stable high iron rice varieties and were statistically analysed. Iron contents ranged
1.89.3.73 mg 100 g)1 and varied significantly (P < 0.05) with variety and season. Selected fifteen high iron
rice varieties, at degree of polishing 8.10% were analysed for iron, zinc and phytate. High iron contents in
endosperm were observed in Suduru Samba (0.47 mg 100 g)1), Basmati 370 (0.37 mg 100 g)1), Kalu Heenati
(0.42 mg 100 g)1), Rathu Heenati (0.44 mg 100 g)1) and Sudu Heenati (0.37 mg 100 g)1). Phytate contents
of polished rice varieties ranged from 200.300 mg 100 g)1. Large reduction in iron content (84.5.93.6%) was
observed in polished rice while the reduction in phytate content (18.9.40.8%) was low. Percentage
dialyzability of iron in selected endosperm high iron rice varieties ranged from 1.73 to 8.71. Dialysability of
iron in cooked polished rice did not show a relation to the phytate content in raw rice.