RD63, a Non-glutinous Rice Variety

Abstract

Rice is an important agricultural commodity of Thailand whereby milled rice is mainly exported. Recently, rice exports by means of ready-to-eat instant foods have been minimal towards rising demand and consumer trends. Medium grain rice used in making processed products for Asian market trading has not yet been available. The variety Khao Tah Haeng 17 used in food processing has long grain and is easily broken. It is therefore necessary to develop medium grain rice with suitable properties for instant breakfast production in order to sustain value added and integrated rice policy implementation. Crossing was made between IR68144-2B-2-2-3-1-166 line from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and CRS23 variety to obtain PTT06036-25-5-B-4-1-4 promising line. Research have been carried out by Pathum Thani Rice Research Center during 2006 to 2014 through the following crop improvement steps, i.e., hybridization and line selection, yield and agronomic characteristic and yield potential trials, evaluation on resistance to rice disease and insect pests, response to N fertilizer application, analyses for grain physical and chemical quality, milling quality and cooking and eating quality. The promising line was subsequently approved by the Varietal Releasing Committee of the Rice Department to be a recommended variety, “RD63”. It is a photoperiod-insensitive, non-glutinous rice having medium grain of 6.18 mm length x 2.35 mm width x 1.74 mm thickness, semi-rounded brown rice (2.63), 116-120 days to harvest (transplanting), erect plant type, strong culm, dark green leaf, 98-100 cm height, mostly compact panicle, 27.1 cm panicle length, partly exserted panicle (1-2 cm), and 90 percent seed set with 107-150 healthy seeds per panicle. RD63 has average yield of 760 kg/rai, straw-colored paddy, white dehulled grain, intermediate amylose content (23.22 percent), 10.67 percent protein content, soft texture with slightly sticky and shiny cooked rice, and non-aroma. Remarkable features are medium grain size, suitable properties for crispy puffed rice making process, short plant type and moderate resistance to brown planthopper (population from Phitsanulok province). It is recommended to be grown in irrigated paddy fields in the lower northern, central and northeastern regions where there are entrepreneur’s needs that link between yields and milled rice processing to make crispy puffed rice products. Caution should be taken as this variety is moderately susceptible to bacterial leaf blight disease.