Varietal traits for achieving high yield, superior quality, and strong lodging resistance in both inbred and hybrid rice in Central China

doi:10.1016/j.jia.2025.06.007

Journal of Integrative Agriculture

2026, Vol. 25

Issue (10): 4064-4074 DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.06.007

Crop Science

Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search

Varietal traits for achieving high yield, superior quality, and strong lodging resistance in both inbred and hybrid rice in Central China

Guodong Yang^1*, Shuhan Lin^1*, Cheng Ren¹, Yifan Fu¹, Hongshun Xiang¹, Zhenmei Wang¹, Stuart Alexander², Xing Yu¹, Le Xu³, Shaobing Peng^1#, Shen Yuan^1#

¹National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement/Hubei Hongshan Laboratory/Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China

²Sustainable Impact Platform, International Rice Research Institute, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila 1301, Philippines

³National Key Laboratory of Smart Farm Technology and System/College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China

Highlights
● High-quality hybrid rice achieved higher yields than inbred rice due to increased panicle size.
● Hybrid and inbred rice had comparable grain quality and lodging resistance.
● Key traits associated with the integration of high yield, superior quality, and strong lodging resistance included high spikelets per unit area, low grain length–width ratio, and short basal internode.

Abstract
References

Download: PDF in ScienceDirect
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)

摘要

杂交稻的籽粒产量通常高于常规稻，但其整体表现常受倒伏和米质差的影响。目前，针对常规稻和杂交稻中同时实现高产、优质和抗倒的品种性状探索较少。因此，本研究于2020年和2021年在华中地区开展田间试验，杂交稻和常规稻各选取了5个代表性水稻品种。结果表明，在2020年和2021年杂交稻的平均产量分别为8.01 t ha^-1和8.63 t ha^-1，较常规稻分别显著提高了10.3%和13.4%。杂交稻表现出与常规稻相当的米质和抗倒伏性。不同品种间在产量、米质和抗倒伏性状方面存在显著的基因型变异。在各品种类型中，鄂丰丝苗（常规稻）和晶两优534（杂交稻）表现出最为均衡且优异的农艺表现。与高产、优质和强抗倒伏性综合表现密切相关的关键性状包括：较高的单位面积颖花数、较低的籽粒长宽比和较短的基部节间。本研究结果表明持续选育综合性状优良的水稻品种是满足日益增长的粮食产量和品质需求的可行策略。

Abstract

Hybrid rice generally showed higher grain yield than inbred rice, but its overall performance is largely affected by lodging and lower grain quality. Limited attention has been given to exploring genotypic variation and varietal traits for achieving high yield, superior quality, and strong lodging resistance simultaneously in both inbred and hybrid rice. To address this gap, field experiments with five representative rice varieties from each rice type were conducted in Central China in 2020 and 2021. The results showed that the average yield of hybrid rice in 2020 and 2021 was 8.01 and 8.63 t ha^–1, respectively, representing significant increases of 10.3 and 13.4% compared to inbred rice. Importantly, hybrid rice showed comparable grain quality and lodging resistance to inbred rice. Substantial genotypic variation was observed among the varieties for yield, grain quality, and lodging-related traits. Efengsimiao (inbred) and Jinliangyou 534 (hybrid) showed the most balanced and superior agronomic performance within each variety type. Key traits associated with the integration of high yield, superior quality, and strong lodging resistance included high spikelets per unit area, low grain length–width ratio, and short basal internode. These findings highlighted the potential to select and breed rice varieties that optimize multiple desirable traits, offering a promising strategy to meet growing food demands in both quantity and quality.

Keywords: grain quality grain yield hybrid rice inbred rice lodging resistance

Received: 02 January 2025 Accepted: 06 May 2025 Online: 03 June 2025

Fund:

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD2301000), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (T2261129473), the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by the China Association for Science and Technology (2022QNRC001), the Young Top-notch Talent Cultivation Program of Hubei Province, China, and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China (2662024JC012).

About author: #Correspondence Shen Yuan, E-mail: syuan@mail.hzau.edu.cn; Shaobing Peng, E-mail: speng@mail.hzau.edu.cn * These authors contributed equally to this study.

	Service
	E-mail this article
	Add to citation manager
	E-mail Alert
	RSS
	Articles by authors

Cite this article:

Guodong Yang, Shuhan Lin, Cheng Ren, Yifan Fu, Hongshun Xiang, Zhenmei Wang, Stuart Alexander, Xing Yu, Le Xu, Shaobing Peng, Shen Yuan. 2026. Varietal traits for achieving high yield, superior quality, and strong lodging resistance in both inbred and hybrid rice in Central China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 25(10): 4064-4074.

Ambardekar A A, Siebenmorgen T J, Counce P A, Lanning S B, Mauromoustakos A. 2011. Impact of field-scale nighttime air temperatures during kernel development on rice milling quality. Field Crops Research, 122, 179–185.

Bao J S. 2018. Rice: Chemistry and Technology. American Association of Cereal Chemists. No. ed. 4. AACC International Press, USA.

Chen Y, Wang M, Ouwerkerk P B F. 2012. Molecular and environmental factors determining grain quality in rice. Food and Energy Security, 1, 111–132.

Cheng C, Ali A, Shi Q, Zeng Y, Tan X, Shang Q, Huang S, Xie X, Zeng Y. 2019. Response of chalkiness in high-quality rice (Oryza sativa L.) to temperature across different ecological regions. Journal of Cereal Science, 87, 39–45.

Espe M B, Hill J E, Leinfelder-Miles M, Espino L A, Mutters R, Mackill D, van Kessel C, Linquist B A. 2018. Rice yield improvements through plant breeding are offset by inherent yield declines over time. Field Crops Research, 222, 59–65.

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). 2024. FAOSTAT Database: Agriculture Production. [2024-10-7]. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). 2025. FAO/UNESCO Soil Map of the World. [2025-4-17]. https://www.fao.org/soils-portal/data-hub/soil-maps-and-databases

Feng F, Li Y, Qin X, Liao Y, Siddique K H M. 2017. Changes in rice grain quality of indica and japonica type varieties released in China from 2000 to 2014. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 1863.

GB/T 17891-2017. 2017. High Quality Paddy. State Bureau of Quality Technical Supervision of the People’s Republic of China. (in Chinese)

Godfray H C J, Beddington J R, Crute I R, Haddad L, Lawrence D, Muir J F, Pretty J, Robinson S, Thomas S M, Toulmin C. 2010. Food security: The challenge of feeding 9 billion people. Science, 327, 812–818.

Gu J, Chen J, Chen L, Wang Z, Zhang H, Yang J C. 2015. Grain quality changes and responses to nitrogen fertilizer of japonica rice cultivars released in the Yangtze River Basin from the 1950s to 2000s. The Crop Journal, 3, 285–297.

Guo Z, Liu X, Zhang B, Yuan X, Xing Y, Liu H, Luo L, Chen G, Xiong L. 2021. Genetic analyses of lodging resistance and yield provide insights into post-Green-Revolution breeding in rice. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 19, 814–829.

Hori K, Suzuki K, Iijima K, Ebana K. 2016. Variation in cooking and eating quality traits in Japanese rice germplasm accessions. Breeding Science, 66, 309–318.

Hoshikawa K, Wang S B. 1990. Studies on lodging in rice plants: I. A general observation on lodged rice culms. Japanese Journal of Crop Science, 59, 809–814.

Huang L Y, Sun F, Yuan S, Peng S B, Wang F. 2018a. Different mechanisms underlying the yield advantage of ordinary hybrid and super hybrid rice over inbred rice under low and moderate N input conditions. Field Crops Research, 216, 150–157.

Huang L Y, Sun F, Yuan S, Peng S B, Wang F. 2018b. Responses of candidate green super rice and super hybrid rice varieties to simplified and reduced input practice. Field Crops Research, 218, 78–87.

Huang M. 2022. The decreasing area of hybrid rice production in China: Causes and potential effects on Chinese rice self-sufficiency. Food Security, 14, 267–272.

Huang M, Jiang L, Zou Y, Zhang W. 2013. On-farm assessment of effect of low temperature at seedling stage on early-season rice quality. Field Crops Research, 141, 63–68.

Huang M, Zou Y B, Jiang P, Xia B, Md I, Ao H J. 2011. Relationship between grain yield and yield components in super hybrid rice. Agricultural Sciences in China, 10, 1537–1544.

Islam M S, Peng S, Visperas R M, Ereful N, Bhuiya M S U, Julfiquar A W. 2007. Lodging-related morphological traits of hybrid rice in a tropical irrigated ecosystem. Field Crops Research, 101, 240–248.

Jiang P, Xie X B, Huang M, Zhou X F, Zhang R C, Chen J N, Wu D D, Xia B, Xu F X, Xiong H, Zou Y B. 2015. Comparisons of yield performance and nitrogen response between hybrid and inbred rice under different ecological conditions in southern China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 14, 1283–1294.

Jongkaewwattana S, Geng S. 2001. Inter-relationships amongst grain characteristics, grain-filling parameters and rice (Oryza sativa L.) milling quality. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 187, 223–229.

Khush G S. 2001. Green revolution: The way forward. Nature Reviews Genetics, 2, 815–822.

Khush G S. 2023. Biodiversity is nature’s gift for the survival of the human race: Some reflections. Crop and Environment, 2, 1–4.

Lang Y Z, Yang X D, Wang M E, Zhu Q S. 2012. Effects of lodging at different filling stages on rice yield and grain quality. Rice Science, 19, 315–319.

Li G, Zhong X, Tian K, Huang N, Pan J, He T. 2013. Effect of nitrogen application on stem lodging resistance of rice and its morphological and mechanical mechanisms. Scientia Agricultural Sinica, 46, 1323–1334. (in Chinese)

Liao P, Bell S M, Chen L, Huang S, Wang H, Miao J, Qi Y, Sun Y, Liao B, Zeng Y, Wei H, Gao H, Dai Q, Zhang H. 2023. Improving rice grain yield and reducing lodging risk simultaneously: A meta-analysis. European Journal of Agronomy, 143, 126709.

Lv R, Zhang W, Xie X, Wang Q, Gao K, Zeng Y, Zeng Y, Pan X, Shang Q. 2022. Foliar application uniconazole enhanced lodging resistance of high-quality indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) by altering anatomical traits, cell structure and endogenous hormones. Field Crops Research, 277, 108425.

NDRC (National Development and Reform Commission). 2021. National Agricultural Products Cost-Benefit Data Compilation 2020. [2025-4-17]. https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/

NY/T-593-2013. 2013. Cooking Rice Variety Quality. Standardization administration of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing. (in Chinese)

Pan J, Zhao J, Liu Y, Huang N, Tian K, Shah F, Liang K, Zhong X, Liu B. 2019. Optimized nitrogen management enhances lodging resistance of rice and its morpho-anatomical, mechanical, and molecular mechanisms. Scientific Reports, 9, 20274.

Peng S. 2016. Dilemma and way-out of hybrid rice during the transition period in China. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 42, 313–319. (in Chinese)

Peng S, Bouman B, Visperas R M, Castañeda A, Nie L, Park H K. 2006. Comparison between aerobic and flooded rice in the tropics: Agronomic performance in an eight-season experiment. Field Crops Research, 96, 252–259.

Peng S, Cassman K G, Virmani S S, Sheehy J, Khush G S. 1999. Yield potential trends of tropical rice since the release of IR8 and the challenge of increasing rice yield potential. Crop Science, 39, 1552–1559.

Peng S, Khush G S, Virk P, Tang Q, Zou Y. 2008. Progress in ideotype breeding to increase rice yield potential. Field Crops Research, 108, 32–38.

Proud C, Fukai S, Dunn B, Dunn T, Mitchell J. 2023. Effect of nitrogen management on grain yield of rice grown in a high-yielding environment under flooded and non-flooded conditions. Crop and Environment, 2, 37–45.

Setter T L, Laureles E V, Mazaredo A M. 1997. Lodging reduces yield of rice by self-shading and reductions in canopy photosynthesis. Field Crops Research, 49, 95–106.

Sui B, Feng X, Tian G, Hu X, Shen Q, Guo S. 2013. Optimizing nitrogen supply increases rice yield and nitrogen use efficiency by regulating yield formation factors. Field Crops Research, 150, 99–107.

Suwannaporn P, Linnemann A. 2008. Rice-eating quality among consumers in different rice grain preference countries. Journal of Sensory Studies, 23, 1–13.

Wang X, Jing Z H, He C, Liu Q Y, Jia H, Qi J Y, Zhang H L. 2021. Breeding rice varieties provides an effective approach to improve productivity and yield sensitivity to climate resources. European Journal of Agronomy, 124, 126239.

Wang X Y, Xu L, Li X X, Yang G D, Wang F, Peng S B. 2022. Grain yield and lodging-related traits of ultrashort-duration varieties for direct-seeded and double-season rice in Central China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 21, 2888–2899.

Weng F, Zhang W, Wu X, Xu X, Ding Y, Li G, Liu Z, Wang S. 2017. Impact of low-temperature, overcast and rainy weather during the reproductive growth stage on lodging resistance of rice. Scientific Reports, 7, 46596.

Wu J, Que R, Qi W, Duan G, Wu J, Zeng Y, Pan X, Xie X. 2022. Varietal variances of grain nitrogen content and its relations to nitrogen accumulation and yield of high-quality rice under different nitrogen rates. Agronomy, 12, 2719.

Xu F, Zheng J, Wang G. 2002. Preliminary analysis of inferior head rice rate of hybrid mid-season rice. Southwest China Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 15, 26–29. (in Chinese)

Xu L, Yuan S, Wang X Y, Yu X, Peng S B. 2021. High yields of hybrid rice do not require more nitrogen fertilizer than inbred rice: A meta-analysis. Food and Energy Security, 10, e276.

Yang G D, Xiang H S, Fu Y F, Zhou C Z, Wang X Y, Yuan S, Yu X, Peng S B. 2024. Optimal nitrogen management increases nitrogen use efficiency of direct-seeded double-season rice using ultrashort-duration cultivars. Field Crops Research, 316, 109495.

Yuan S, Linquist B A, Wilson L T, Cassman K G, Stuart A M, Pede V, Miro B, Saito K, Agustiani N, Aristya V E, Krisnadi L Y, Zanon A J, Heinemann A B, Carracelas G, Subash N, Brahmanand P S, Li T, Peng S, Grassini P. 2021. Sustainable intensification for a larger global rice bowl. Nature Communications, 12, 7163.

Yuan S, Nie L, Wang F, Huang J, Peng S. 2017. Agronomic performance of inbred and hybrid rice cultivars under simplified and reduced-input practices. Field Crops Research, 210, 129–135.

Yuan S, Yang C, Yu X, Zheng C, Xiao S, Xu L, Cui K, Huang J, Peng S. 2022. On-farm comparison in grain quality between main and ratoon crops of ratoon rice in Hubei Province, Central China. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 102, 7259–7267.

Zeng D, Tian Z, Rao Y, Dong G, Yang Y, Huang L, Leng Y, Xu J, Sun C, Zhang G, Hu J, Zhu L, Gao Z, Hu X, Guo L, Xiong G, Wang Y, Li J, Qian Q. 2017. Rational design of high-yield and superior-quality rice. Nature Plants, 3, 17031.

Zhang J, Li G, Song Y, Liu Z, Yang C, Tang S, Zheng C, Wang S, Ding Y. 2014. Lodging resistance characteristics of high-yielding rice populations. Field Crops Research, 161, 64–74.

Zhang Q. 2007. Strategies for developing Green Super Rice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 104, 16402–16409.

Zhang Y, Tang Q, Zou Y, Li D, Qin J, Yang S, Chen L, Xia B, Peng S. 2009. Yield potential and radiation use efficiency of “super” hybrid rice grown under subtropical conditions. Field Crops Research, 114, 91–98.

Zhu G, Li G, Wang D, Yuan S, Wang F. 2016. Changes in the lodging-related traits along with rice genetic improvement in China. PLoS ONE, 11, e0160104.

Zhou X Q, Chen D G, Guo J, Chen P L, Li L J, Chen K, Chen Y D, Liu C G, Zhang Z M. 2021. Genetic improvement of grain quality traits in indica inbred rice cultivars developed in South China during 1956–2020. Euphytica, 218, 8.

[1]	Lu Liang, Zhuohan Gao, Zaisong Ding, Wenchao Zhen, Zheng Liu, Congfeng Li, Ming Zhao, Xinbing Wang, Baoyuan Zhou. *Genotypic advantages of root–shoot growth alleviate the grain yield reduction of maize (Zea* mays L.) under various soil compaction levels**[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(9): 3619-3628.
[2]	Siqi Wang, Mengyu Sun, Kaiyi Xing, Xin Cheng, Le Wang, Limeng Zhang, Chunsheng Yao, Yinghua Zhang, Zhimin Wang, He Song, Jinpeng Li. Micro-sprinkler irrigation induces synergistic source–sink regulation: A promising strategy for boosting wheat grain weight in the Huaibei Plain, China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(8): 3194-3207.
[3]	Chenchen Zhang, Yan Wang, Lu Chen, Xixi Wang, Sheng Teng. Advances in rice synthetic biology: Toward a better staple crop and beyond[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(5): 1741-1759.
[4]	Muhammad Fraz Ali, Lijuan Ma, Irsa Ejaz, Wanrui Han, Shengnan Wang, Xiang Lin, Dong Wang. Productivity and economic benefits of winter wheat in Northwest China by optimizing irrigation and planting density[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(5): 1871-1886.
[5]	Jiyu Zhao, Xudong Sun, Yuqi Xue, Alam Sher, Jiayu Ran, Peng Liu, Bin Zhao, Baizhao Ren, Ningning Yu, Hao Ren, Jiwang Zhang. Optimizing nitrogen management for higher grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in summer maize by coordinating the N supply–demand balance[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(5): 1902-1912.
[6]	Haihe Gao, Changrong Yan, Joann K. Whalen, Wenqing He, Hongjin Liu, Jixiao Cui, Daozhi Gong, Karen Mancl, Qin Liu, Xurong Mei. Biodegradable mulch films support root proliferation and yield in water-saving rice production[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(4): 1664-1674.
[7]	Xucun Jia, Fuli Li, Zhengyan Miao, Xiaoyong Li, Leikang Sun, Yuepeng Wei, Kangna Yang, Hangzhao Guo, Rui Song, Haipeng Shang, Xianli Feng, Yuxia Li, Rongfa Li, Qun Wang. Cultivar mixtures of maize enhance grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency by promoting canopy photosynthetically active radiation and root growth[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(4): 1451-1462.
[8]	Xiaodong Fan, Xiaotao Hu, Yakun Wang, Dianyu Chen, Wene Wang, Fang Wang, Qing Zha. *Deep storage irrigation can recharge farmland deep soil moisture and sustain production of summer maize (Zea* mays L.) through flood resources utilization in irrigation districts of northern China**[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(3): 1243-1262.
[9]	Zhenlong Wang, Pin He, Xuyao Li, Tieshan Liu, Saud Shah, Hao Ren, Baizhao Ren, Peng Liu, Jiwang Zhang, Bin Zhao. *Enhancing yield of modern maize (Zea* mays L.) hybrids through optimization of population photosynthetic capacity and light-nitrogen use efficiency under high planting density**[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(3): 938-951.
[10]	Hao Wu, Wenjiang Jing, Yajun Zhang, Ying Zhang, Weilu Wang, Kuanyu Zhu, Weiyang Zhang, Junfei Gu, Lijun Liu, Jianhua Zhang, Hao Zhang. Optimized application strategy of controlled-release nitrogen improves grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency and lodging resistance of rice[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(3): 903-917.
[11]	Xiqiang Li, Yuhong Gao, Zhengjun Cui, Tingfeng Zhang, Shiyuan Chen, Shilei Xiang, Lingling Jia, Bin Yan, Yifan Wang, Lizhuo Guo, Bing Wu . Optimized nitrogen and potassium fertilizers application increases stem lodging resistance and grain yield of oil flax by enhancing lignin biosynthesis[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(2): 659-670.
[12]	Jiyu Zhao, Wenjie Geng, Yuqi Xue, Sher Alam, Peng Liu, Bin Zhao, Baizhao Ren, Jiwang Zhang. Optimizing plant morphology to enhance canopy light distribution improves lodging resistance and grain yield in densely planted maize[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(10): 4114-4125.
[13]	Zichen Liu, Liyan Shang, Shuaijun Dai, Jiayu Ye, Tian Sheng, Jun Deng, Ke Liu, Shah Fahad, Xiaohai Tian, Yunbo Zhang, Liying Huang. *Optimizing nitrogen application and planting density improves yield and resource use efficiency via* regulating canopy light and nitrogen distribution in rice**[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(1): 81-91.
[14]	Lichao Zhai, Shijia Song, Lihua Zhang, Jinan Huang, Lihua Lv, Zhiqiang Dong, Yongzeng Cui, Mengjing Zheng, Wanbin Hou, Jingting Zhang, Yanrong Yao, Yanhong Cui, Xiuling Jia. Subsoiling before winter wheat alleviates the kernel position effect of densely grown summer maize by delaying post-silking root–shoot senescence[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(9): 3384-3402.
[15]	Jinpeng Li, Siqi Wang, Zhongwei Li, Kaiyi Xing, Xuefeng Tao, Zhimin Wang, Yinghua Zhang, Chunsheng Yao, Jincai Li. Effects of micro-sprinkler irrigation and topsoil compaction on winter wheat grain yield and water use efficiency in the Huaibei Plain, China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(8): 2974-2988.

No Suggested Reading articles found!

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed

Cite this article:

About JIA

Editorial board

For authors