Study on evaluation and utilization of japonica rice variety Yueguang with superior grain quality

The main agronomic characters of superior japonica rice variety Yueguang (YG) introduced from Japan were investigated. Through crossing between YG and high yield japonica rice varieties in Zhejiang province, three stable lines with improved comprehensive agronomic characters were obtained. It was demonstrated that the lines EB9903 and EB9901 had better milling quality (percentage of head rice was increased by about 10%), mostly similar cooking quality, better lodging and blast resistant ability and higher grain yield (increased by about 50%) as compared with YG, but had almost the same grain yield as Xiushui 11. The two lines might be directly applied to the rice production in Zhejiang province. However, the other line EB9910 might be utilized as breeding materials because of superior quality and resistance but low yield. Results showed that the superior quality characteristic of YG could be introduced to Chinese japonica varieties of high yield so as to breed the variety with improved milling and cooking qualities.