Breeding of California long-grain and pearl rice varieties with high yields and good grain quality.

Abstract

A very early-maturing, intermediate plant height, long-grain rice variety, "Callfornla Bell" (NFD-69), and a very early-maturing, short-stature, pearl rice variety, "Calpearl" (NFD-62 C), were developed by hybridization. Yield trials were carried out with California long-grain, medium-grain and short-grain check varieties. Averaging three years' seeding dates in the Firebaugh breeding nursery, one year's small plot adaptation test in four different rice-growing areas, and one year in a large commercial-scale field of a major rice-growing area, Calpearl came out in the first class with significantly higher yields (>10%) than all check varieties. Averaging early, mid-season and late plantings, Calperal yielded more than 11 tons dried paddy per hectare. California Belle ranked in the second class, but there was no significant yield difference as compared with M-101, a very early-maturing short-stature check variety. Three early-maturing check varieties were included in the third class after Duncan's test. Calpearl had especially high produc-tivity after delayed planting, which makes it attractive as a second crop following winter crops of barley or wheat. Calpearl has a larger grain size than the California short-grain varieties and is the first pearl-type rice with attractive translucent kernels without white belly or chalkiness. California Belle has slender grain, translucence, also without white belly or chalkiness. Chemical analysis on milled rice starch showed that both Californla Belle and Calpearl were typical and met U. S. long-grain and short-grain standards, respectively. Cboked California Bell rice is extremely white with favorable texture and taste. The success of long-graln breeding introduces a new phase in the California rice industry. Indica genes incorporated in Japonica rice have made the highly-productive Calpearl possible.