MTU 1010 (Cottondora Sannalu)
From Andhra Pradesh — the short-duration workhorse of the delta belt, valued for freeing the field early enough for a rabi crop behind it.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Paddy (Rice)
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- 120–125 days
- Expected yield
- 55–65 q/ha under irrigated conditions
- Suitable soil
- Clay / black soil
- Release
- Released around 2000 (IET 15644) · Andhra Pradesh Rice Research Station (APRRS), Maruteru, ANGRAU
About this variety
MTU 1010 (Cottondora Sannalu, IET 15644) was bred at the Andhra Pradesh Rice Research Station, Maruteru (ANGRAU) and released around 2000 as a shorter-duration alternative to varieties like Swarna. It matures in about 120 days with a long, slender grain type that mills prefer, and combines good tolerance to brown planthopper with wide adaptability across wet and dry seasons — traits that made it one of India's most widely grown "mega-varieties," reportedly cultivated on more than a tenth of the country's total rice area at its peak.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- HarvestingAbout 120 days from sowing to maturity — noticeably shorter than Swarna, freeing the field earlier for a rabi crop behind it
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
120–125 days
Expected yield
55–65 q/ha under irrigated conditions
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Management notes
- Watch for bacterial blight through the season, especially after wind-driven rain — this is the variety's documented weak point
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Short-to-medium duration (about 120 days) frees the field early enough for a rabi crop behind it — a real advantage over longer-duration varieties like Swarna
- Long, slender grain type that mills and traders prefer over Swarna's bolder grain
- Good brown planthopper tolerance and wide adaptability across wet and dry seasons and multiple states
Things to consider
- Highly susceptible to bacterial blight — needs closer disease watching than blight-tolerant varieties such as Swarna
- Only moderate blast tolerance — not a fit for blast-prone tracts without added management
- Bred and best proven in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka; performance outside that belt is less established
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
- Karnataka
Frequently asked questions
What is MTU 1010 (Cottondora Sannalu) rice?
A medium-duration rice variety bred at the Andhra Pradesh Rice Research Station, Maruteru and released around 2000 — one of India's most widely grown "mega-varieties."
How many days does MTU 1010 take to mature?
About 120 days from sowing to maturity — noticeably shorter than Swarna.
Is MTU 1010 resistant to bacterial blight?
No — it is highly susceptible to bacterial blight, its main documented weak point, though it has good tolerance to brown planthopper.
What is the grain type of MTU 1010?
A long, slender grain type that mills and traders generally prefer.
Which regions are suitable for MTU 1010?
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, where it is best proven; it is also grown more widely across India.
Sourced from: Marker assisted pedigree breeding based improvement of the Indian mega variety of rice MTU1010 for resistance against bacterial blight and blast and tolerance to low soil phosphorus — PLOS ONE / PMC. editorial policy.