Breeding and application of Fengtianyou 981, a high-yield, fine quality and weakly photosensitive indica hybrid rice with soft grain

ObjectiveBreeding of weakly photosensitive indica hybrid rice variety with strong heterosis, high yield, fine quality, wide adaptability and stable vegetative growth was conducted to provide selection for varieties upgrading in China. MethodFengtian-1A, a indica CMS line with soft grains developed by Rice Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 2011 was cross bred with Gui 981, a strong new restoring line. The comprehensive trait perfor-mances of the offspring were investigated in variety comparative test during 2012-2013 in demonstration base of Rice Re-search Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences. During 2013-2015, it was recommended to join regional screening trial of late-cropping photosensitive rice groups in southern Guangxi for screening trial , regional trial and produc-tion trial in order to evaluate its comprehensive traits. ResultFengtianyou 981, has the characteristics of high yield, sta-bility, wide adaptability and fine quality. Its growth duration was 112.0 d, 5 d shorter than that of Boyou 253. The variety was charactered by 168 grains per panicle, seed setting rate 88.6%and 1000-grain weight 25 g, length-width ratio 3.6 and amylose content 13.4%. In variety comparative test conducted by Rice Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 2012 and 2013, the average yields of Fengtianyou 981 were 7785.0 and 7687.5 kg/ha respectively, increased by 9.50% and 5.60% compared to control Boyou 253. In regional screening trial, the average yields of Fengtianyou 981 was 8163.0 kg/ha, up 11.48% compared to control Boyou 253 in 2013. The average yields in regional trials in 2014 and 2015 were 7948.5 and 7917.0 kg/ha respectively, increased by 9.17%, and 10.61%compared to control Boyou 253. In pro-ductive trial in 2015, the average yield was 7209.0 kg/ha, which increased by 4.74%compared to control. It was approved by Guangxi Crop Variety Appraisal Committees in 2016(Guishendao 2016009).ConclusionFengtianyou 981 has a promising application prospect, and can be promoted as late-cropping rice in south and middle Guangxi where weakly photosensitive indica hybrid rice is suitable for planting.