Introduction trial of Huanghuazhan, a high-quality and conventional rice variety in Hainan

Decline has been occurring in yield and disease resistance of leading varieties of rice in Hainan province in recent years, due to the constant planting. Against this background, Huanghuazhan, a high-quality and conventional rice variety recently bred in Rice Research Institute of Guangdong Academy of Agricultral Sciences, was introduced to Hainan province in 2010. Trial planting was carried out at Yongfa town of Chengmai county, during each cropping-season from 2010 to 2012 except the early-season of 2010. The results showed that Huanghuazhan was a moderately compact-type variety and had a medium duration of growth, good grain quality and a nonshattering phenotype. Moreover, this variety was characterized by high and stable yield, moderate resistance to diseases and insect pests, and high resistance to lodging. It can hence be popularized on a large scale in Hainan province. Huanghuazhan is a multi-spike variety, and its seedlings should be transplanted in low density. During the growth period, basic control measures are indispensible in early season for rice blast and in late season for bacterial blight, bacterial streak, and rice leaf roller. Huanghuazhan is also a variety with strong tolerance to fertilizer, suggesting that an increased level of fertilizer application is allowed when cultivating and managing this variety.