The Grain Quality section of the observatory consists of three parts:

1. Grain quality catalog of Latin American and Caribbean rice varieties :Presents grain quality information on 132 rice varieties from 16 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. White rice samples of these varieties were analyzed during 2017 to 2019 at FLAR´s Rice Grain Quality Laboratory. The characteristics evaluated were: white center, grain length, grain shape (Length/Width), amylose content and gelatinization temperature. In addition, a sample photograph from each variety is presented. This characterization was performed on single samples provided by plant breeders from FLAR member organizations, harvested in different environments and under non-standardized post-harvest handling and milling conditions. Therefore, this information may not represent the typical characteristics of the varieties in their countries of origin.

   Methodologies developed in the quality catalog

   1. Photography : It was taken in a light camera with a NIKON camera model D7100 with AF-S NIKKOR 18-105 MM 1:3.5-5.6G ED VR DX lens.
   2. Laboratory tests : The following tests were performed
      Grain appearance

      White Center Long Length / Width (L / W)

      Culinary quality

      Amylose content Gelatinization temperature

2. Varieties comparator :It is a tool that allows interaction with the varieties obtained from the 16 countries, users can compare the grain quality characteristics between all the listed varieties
3. Digital repository of technical standards for grain quality in Latin American and Caribbean countries :grain quality standards, industrial grain quality standards and rice seed production and distribution standards.

• CENTRO INTERNACIONAL DE AGRICULTURA TROPICAL. 1989. Evaluación de la calidad culinaria y molinera del arroz; guía de estudio para ser usada como complemento de la unidad audio tutorial sobre el mismo tema. Contenido científico: César Martinez, Federico Cuevas. Producción: Luz Medina. Cali, Colombia. CIAT 73 p. (Serie 04SR-07.01). Pag. 27-42
• AACC. 2000. American Association of Cereal Chemists. Approved Methods. (11th. ed.). Determination of the pasting properties of rice with the Rapid Visco Analyser. Method 61-02.01. Saint Paul, MN, USA