A new rice [Oryza sativa] variety for whole-crop silage, 'Nishiaoba'

'Nishiaoba,' a new rice cultivar for whole-crop silage (WCS), was developed at the National Agricultural Research Center for Kyushu Okinawa Region. It was registered as Norin 399 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) in 2004. Nishiaoba is a lowland rice cultivar that is adaptable to the early planting culture in Kyushu region. This cultivar was selected from the progenies of the cross between Hokuriku 130 (Oochikara) and SLG 9 (Hitohana). The main characteristics of Nishiaoba are as follows. The maturity is almost the same as that of Nishihomare and is classified as medium maturing in the Kyushu region. Compared to Nishihomare, Nishiaoba has a longer culm and slightly fewer panicles. Its lodging resistance is inferior to that of Nishihomare. It has true resistant genes to blast, Pia and Pik-m, and the field resistance to blast is classified as moderate. With regard to bacterial leaf blight, Nishiaoba belongs to the group of Kinmaze and its field resistance is classified as moderately susceptible. Nishiaoba possesses superior dry matter productivity, and its whole-crop yield is about 15% higher than that of Nishihomare under the early planting culture. The total digestible nutrients (TDN) yield per unit area of Nishiaoba is also about 15% higher than that of Nishihomare. Nishiaoba is clearly distinguishable from rice varieties for food after the heading stage from its stature and large grain. Nishiaoba loses fewer grains during harvest compared to easy shattering varieties such as Mohretsu. The risk of shattered seed contaminating the next season crop is considered to be low due to its weak dormancy of seed. These characteristics are considered to be favorable for whole-crop silage use. Nishiaoba was adopted as the recommended variety for fodder crop in Oita prefecture in 2004.