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California rice—Capturing quality
K. S. MCKENZIE (1), V. C. Andaya (1), F. Jodari (1), S. O. Samonte (1). (1) Rice Experiment Station, California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation, Biggs, CA, U.S.A.
Commercial rice production in California was established 1912 along with the founding of the Rice Experiment Station near Biggs, CA. USDA scientists tested and identified a few plant introductions that successfully produced a rice crop in small plantings in the heavy clay soils of the Northern Sacramento Valley. Not only were the yields so high that their validity was questioned by rice producers elsewhere, but the grain quality was good enough to win awards at some agricultural expositions. Thus from the very beginning grain yield and quality have been at the core of the breeding program. Two short grain introductions were grown until the 1950’s when a break through medium grain variety, ‘Calrose’, was adopted and constituted 70% of the production by the 1970s. Grower funding for an expanded breeding program began in 1969 and has led to the release of 43 new California rice cultivars that include U.S. medium-, long- and short-grain market classes as well of specialty varieties. The breeding program has integrated quality selection procedures with selection for agronomic traits. Selection for rice quality includes visual selection for kernel characteristics, physicochemical testing, milling tests, and cooking tests. Elite experimental entries are provided to marketing organizations for evaluation and feedback that provides crucial input in determining their release for commercial production.
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