Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> Rice ( <italic>Oryza sativa</italic> L.) is a critical staple crop, providing food security for over one-third of the global population. The preservation and characterization of traditional landraces are essential for sustaining biodiversity and improving crop resilience. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity of 23 rice landraces from Bihar using agro-morphological traits and molecular markers. A comprehensive Distinctiveness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) test was conducted, evaluating 33 phenotypic characteristics. The results revealed significant variability, with 6 traits exhibiting monomorphism, 1 partially monomorphic, 6 dimorphic, and 20 polymorphic, indicating high genetic diversity among genotypes. Notably, landraces such as <italic>Sathi-1</italic> and <italic>Parwa Pankhi</italic> displayed rare traits, enhancing their potential for breeding programs. Molecular characterization, performed using 15 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, identified 81 alleles, including 7 unique alleles, reinforcing the genetic distinctiveness of the landraces. The Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) values ranged from 0.032 to 0.87, demonstrating high marker efficiency in genotype differentiation. The integration of morphological and molecular markers provided a robust framework for rice landrace conservation, aiding in the identification of valuable genetic resources for future breeding initiatives. These findings underscore the significance of conserving traditional landraces to enhance rice genetic improvement and sustainability. </p>