Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 7651 IREC Farmers' Newsletter No. 195 ­ – Rice R&D 2016 Ben Ovenden, Peter Snell and Laura Pallas NSW Department of Primary Industries, Yanco Agricultural Institute Russell Ford Rice Research Australia P/L, Jerilderie Y RM70 is a medium-grain rice with similar quality characteristics to the variety Reiziq and YRK5 is a short- grain rice with quality characteristics matching the variety Opus. The key feature of both new varieties is a short growing season, the same as or shorter than the outclassed variety Jarrah that was grown between 1993 and 2012. Both breeding lines originate from the cold tolerance screening nurseries in the breeding program and were identified through panicle sterility measurements. The lines include cold tolerant parents in their pedigree that were sourced from high latitude regions overseas, where rice is grown between snow events. The lines both have tolerance to low temperatures at the reproductive stage, equivalent to Sherpa. Both lines have been evaluated in district trials after progressing through the breeding program. Results show that Reiziq performs better than YRM70 in full season trials, while YRM70 outperforms Reiziq in late sown trials (Figure 1). Trial performance across similar performing trial groups over three years show YRM70 grain yield is predicted to be 96% of Reiziq in full season sowing dates, and 107% of Reiziq in late sowing dates. Two lines in the final stages of testing in the rice breeding program potentially offer efficiency gains of around 10% in terms of rice produced per megalitre. QUICK TAKE l  A shorter growing season is a key feature of two lines in the final stages of testing in the rice breeding program. l  YRM70 and YRK5 have maturity comparable to Jarrah and potentially offer about a 10% increase in water productivity. l  Both lines include cold tolerant parents and have tolerance to low temperatures at the reproductive stage equivalent to Sherpa. l  Low GI medium-grain and long-grain breeding lines are showing promise in the rice breeding program and will be priorities for future variety releases. l The short-grain breeding line YRK5 (left) flowers 14 days earlier than Opus (right) in a mid-November sowing. OVERVIEW OF NEW SHORT SEASON BREEDING LINES YRM70 AND YRK5