Evaluation of new rice lines based on qualitative and quantitative characteristics

Yield of 34 selected rice lines along with two check cultivars (Hashemi and Binam) was evaluated based on qualitative and quantitative characteristics in Gilan province, Iran. Also, yield of 24 selected lines with two check varieties (Fajr and Neda) was compared in Mazandaran province in a lattice design at Rice Research Institute of Iran in
2008. Traits like grain yield, plant height, number of panicle, grain number in panicle, 1000 grain weight, days to 50% flowering, maturity, amylase content, gel consistency and gelatinization temperature were measured. Based on the results, eight rice lines for Gilan and seven rice cultivars for Mazandaran province were selected based on important qualitative and quantitative characteristics for evaluation in adaptation experiments. Yield of the selected lines ranged from 5.58 to 7.71 t.ha-1. They had also other proper characteristics including plant height of 108-137 cm, amylase content of 21.1-22.5 mg.kg-1, Gelatinization temperature of 62.4-72.3°C, and good resistance to blast disease (score between 1-2). Therefore, the selected lines were promising for improving advanced rice lines.