New low-glutelin brewers' rice [Oryza sativa] cultivar 'Mizuhonoka' for the western region [Japan]

'Mizuhonoka', a new low-glutelin brewer's rice cultivar developed at the National Agriculture Research Center for the Western Region (formerly the Chugoku National Experimental Station), is useful for brewing high-quality sake. 'Mizuhonoka' was bred from the progeny of a cross performed in 1995 between LGC1 and 'Hyogokitanishiki' to add the low-glutelin-content trait to the paternal cultivar. The promising progeny line was named 'Tashukei 1000'; investigations into its use and suitability for brewing began at Kizakura Co. Ltd. in 2000. In 2004, the line was redesignated 'Chugoku-sake 185' and entered adaptability testing. In 2008, it was registered officially as 'Paddy Rice Norin 426' and named 'Mizuhonoka' by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The following results have been obtained for this cultivar: 1. 'Mizuhonoka' has a heading date that is 7 days later than that of 'Hyogokitanishiki' and equivalent to that of 'Nipponbare'. Its maturity date is 4 days later than that of 'Hyogokitanishiki' and is equivalent to that of 'Nipponbare'. Its maturity is classified as medium-medium in flatlands along the Seto Inland Sea. Its culm length is 86 cm, which is 2 cm shorter than that of 'Nipponbare' and 6 cm longer than that of 'Hyogokitanishiki'. Its panicle length is 2 cm longer than that of 'Nipponbare' and equivalent to that of 'Hyogokitanishiki'. Its panicle number per unit area is less than that of 'Nipponbare', but more than that of 'Hyogokitanishiki'. Plant type of this cultivar is semi-panicle type. Its culms thickness is medium and hardness is slightly soft. Its tolerance for lodging is slightly strong, equivalent to that of 'Nipponbare' and weaker than that of 'Hyogokitanishiki'. The awns are few, very weak, and short. The apiculus is white, and the lemma is light gold. The shattering resistance is strong, and the grains are non-glutinous.