RNR 15048, better known as Telangana Sona
Bred at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Rajendranagar, by crossing two proven varieties, MTU 1010 and JGL 3855. It was released for Telangana in 2015 and notified by the Government of India in 2016.
It’s a short, slender, super-fine grain, close to Sona Masoori in look and taste, and it has found buyers far beyond Telangana, including the Gulf, the UK, the US and Australia.
~51Glycemic index, in the low range
120–125Days from sowing to harvest
>67%Head rice recovery, so fewer broken grains
BlastResistant to blast disease, the most damaging rice fungus
Kharif & RabiGrows in both seasons
Super fineShort slender grain that cooks soft and separate
No. 196Registered with PPV&FRA, Govt. of India, 2018
Semi-tallAbout 100–115 cm, with long 24–25 cm panicles
Why the GI is lower
Researchers attribute the slower release of sugar to the grain’s starch make-up. In a clinical study with people with type 2 diabetes, swapping regular rice for RNR 15048 lowered after-meal blood sugar compared with common white rice.
How it cooks
Intermediate amylose and gel consistency give it a soft, non-sticky texture. Use about 1 : 2 rice to water for polished grain, a little more water for single polish, and 1 : 2.5 after soaking for brown.