Breeding and Application of Indica Hybrid Rice Zhongyou 218 by Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection

Zhongyou 218,a new indica hybrid rice combination derived from the cross of Zhong 9A/Zhonghui 218,was developed recently by the China National Rice Research Institute. Its restorer line Zhonghui 218 with the Xa21 gene resistant to bacterial leaf blight (BLB) was bred through the molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) technique. It could be grown as a late-season or middle-season rice. It was characteristic of high and stable yield potential,good grain quality,resistance to blast and BLB, wide adaptability and high yield of F 1 seed production. It was registered and released to commercial production in Jiangxi Province in March, 2003. Its yield performance, major agronomic characters, grain quality and pest resistance were introduced. The key points of its cultural management and hybrid seed production techniques were also given in this paper.