Developing rice cultivars for Cambodia and Australia

摘要

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project CSE/2009/005 (Improved rice germplasm for Cambodia and Australia) identified the current and future rice germplasm needs in Cambodia through a survey of farmers, millers and traders, and used the results as benchmarks for developing new rice cultivars for Cambodia. The project evaluated 1,459 introductions from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Australia under aerobic or lowland conditions in-field for agronomic traits and in-laboratory for quality. The project has: (1) identified a number of lines that are suitable for direct-seeded aerobic systems; (2) identified 14 early lines suitable for irrigated lowland systems; (3) developed five promising backcross lines with improved grain quality and drought tolerance for rainfed systems; and (4) released a glutinous variety, Damnoeb Sbai Mongkul, in 2013. Additionally, the project has developed 246 F_5 photoperiod-insensitive lines for short maturity and good grain quality, and 99 F_3 photoperiod-sensitive lines for lodging resistance and quality. The project is still introgressing Sub1 and AG1 genes into Phka Rumduol using molecular breeding, and identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs; genes responsible for sensory quality traits) of Cambodia jasmine rice. Northern Australia is a tropical region with significant potential for rice production. The Australian component of the project is to evaluate the direct-seeded aerobic system in northern Australia and to identify suitable rice germplasm through varietal trials at five locations across that region. The project evaluated 120 local cultivars and introductions from other countries under direct-seeded aerobic conditions. The results show that the yield of some adapted cultivars under direct-seeded aerobic conditions in northern Australia is as high as that in southern Australia, indicating that tropical northern Australia has potential as a new rice-producing region. The project has also identified a number of cultivars that can be grown in northern Australia.