Ao Jingxiang

Variety Name: Ao Jingxiang

Approval Number: National Rice Variety Approval No. 20226108

Breeding Institution: Hunan Aopulon Technology Co., Ltd.

Variety Origin: Aoxiangsi X Lijing X Meixiangzhan

Variety Introduction: Aojingxiang is Hunan Aopulon Technology Co., Ltd. Using the O R1122 maternal line, Meixiangzhan No. 2 An elite late-season indica fragrant rice variety developed through male-parent hybridization. Aojingxiang is cultivated as a double-cropping late-season rice in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, with a total growth period of 115.6 days, which is shorter than that of the control. Wuyou 308 Early maturity by 2.0 days. Plant height is 104.7 cm, panicle length is 23.6 cm, effective panicles per mu are 201,000, total grains per panicle are 163.5, seed-setting rate is 80.8%, and 1,000-grain weight is 25.2 g. This variety is moderately susceptible. Rice blast , highly susceptible to bacterial leaf blight in rice, highly susceptible Brown planthopper , with only moderate cold tolerance.

Characteristics: An indica-type conventional rice variety. When grown as a late-season double-cropping rice in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, its total growth period is 115.6 days, which is 2.0 days earlier than the control variety Wuyou 308. Plant height is 104.7 cm, panicle length is 23.6 cm, with 201,000 effective panicles per mu; each panicle bears 163.5 grains, with a seed-setting rate of 80.8% and a 1,000-grain weight of 25.2 g. Resistance: the comprehensive blast disease index over two years was 4.2 and 4.3, respectively; the panicle-neck blast damage rating reached the highest level of 5; bacterial leaf blight, brown planthopper, and cold tolerance were rated at levels 9, 9, and 5, respectively. The variety exhibits moderate resistance to blast, high susceptibility to bacterial leaf blight and brown planthopper, and only moderate cold tolerance. Key grain quality parameters: brown-rice yield 79.8%, milled-rice yield 55.0%, grain length 7.2 mm, length-to-width ratio 4.5, chalkiness 0.7%, translucency grade 1, alkali-labile value 6.2, gel consistency 72 mm, and amylose content 15.1%, meeting the Grade II standard stipulated in the agricultural industry standard “Quality of Edible Rice Varieties” (NY/T 593–2013).

Yield Performance: In 2019, the variety was included in the regional trial for the late-maturing early-season indica rice group in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, achieving an average yield of 607.9 kg per mu, a 2.5% increase over the control. In the 2020 follow-up trial, the average yield was 569.5 kg per mu, up 2.0% from the control. Over the two-year regional trial period, the average yield was 588.7 kg per mu, representing a 2.3% increase over the control. In the 2021 production trial, the average yield was 604.1 kg per mu, a 1.8% increase over the control.

Key Cultivation Techniques : In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, this variety is grown as a double-cropping late-season rice. Sowing is typically carried out in mid-to-late June, with a seeding rate of 10.0 kg per mu for the nursery bed and 1.0–1.3 kg per mu for the main field. Transplanting is done when the seedlings have about 5.0 leaves, with a nursery age kept within 20–25 days. The planting spacing is 20.0 cm × 20.0 cm, ensuring at least 80,000 tillers per mu. Implement scientific fertilization, timely sowing, prompt transplanting, adequate stand establishment, and rational fertilizer and water management. Other field management, cultivation, and harvesting practices should follow the standard procedures for this type of variety. Timely control of blast, sheath blight, bacterial leaf blight, as well as brown planthoppers and stem borers, among other pests and diseases, is essential.

Review and Approval Opinion: This variety meets the national standards for rice variety approval and has been officially approved. It is suitable for late-season rice cultivation in areas with low incidence of blast disease within the double-cropping rice regions of Jiangxi Province, Hunan Province, Hubei Province, Anhui Province, and Zhejiang Province.