Relationship Between Grain Yield and Yield Components in Super Hybrid Rice

Chinese super hybrid rice breeding project has developed many new varieties with great yield potential. It is controversial which yield component should be emphasized in super hybrid rice production. The present study was conducted to compare super hybrid rice with common hybrid and super inbred rice and analyze contributions of yield components to grain yield of super hybrid rice under experimental conditions, and evaluate relationships between grain yield and yield components of super hybrid rice in farmer’s paddy fields. Field experiments were done in Changsha, Guidong, and Nanxian, Hunan Province, China, from 2007 to 2009. Eight super hybrid varieties, one common hybrid variety, and one super inbred variety were grown in each location and year. Rice production investigation was undertaken in high-yielding (Guidong), moderate-yielding (Nanxian), and low-yielding (Ningxiang) regions of Hunan Province, China, in 2009. Grain yield and yield components were measured in both the field experiments and rice production investigation. Super hybrid rice varieties outyielded common hybrid and super inbred varieties across three locations and years. Yield potential has been increased by 11.4% in super hybrid rice varieties compared with common and super inbred varieties. The higher yield of super hybrid varieties was attributed to improvement in panicle size. Panicles per m2 had the highest positive contribution to grain yield with the exception under yield level of 10.0 to 12.0 t ha-1, and was positively related to grain yield in farmer’s field at all of the high-, moderate-, and low-yielding regions. Our study suggests that panicle per m2 ought to be emphasized in super hybrid rice production.