Breeding an Aromatic, High-quality, High-yield Hybrid Rice Yexiangyou 669

  Objective   An aromatic, high-quality, high-yield, disease-resistant rice variety was bred.

  Method  Utilizing the genetic diversity and complementing agronomic traits between the male parent, Fuhui 669 with high yield and combining ability, and the female parent, the fragrant, high-quality, disease-resistant sterile line Yexiang A, a new breed of rice were generated. The hybrid was subjected to multiple ecological resistance identification, a quality analysis after high temperature maturation, and years of multi-point comparison test prior to final selection.

  Result  The high-quality, high-yield, disease-resistant Yexiangyou 669 of a desirable plant type was obtained and submitted to the regional trial for mid-season rice in Fujian from 2019 to 2020. In the 2-year trial, it showed an average growth period of 139.8 d, which was 1.1 d shorter than the reference cultivar, II You 3301, and an average yield of 9 363 kg·hm⁻², which was 2.24% higher than control but not statistically significant. It exhibited resistance to rice blast and up to the national Grade A quality. In 2021, it was certified by the Fujian Provincial Crop Approval Committee as the Min Approved Rice No. 20210014. Yexiangyou 669 had inherited 6 desirable genes from one parent and 16 common to both parents.

  Conclusion  The new hybrid rice Yexiangyou 669 had high yield, strong disease resistance, and superb grain quality and was promoted as one of the main varieties in the province.