Louisiana State university AgCenter releases new rice hybrid

A new hybrid rice with high quality and competitive yield potential is being released by the LSU AgCenter.

The long-grain hybrid, LAH169, was developed at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station during the past seven years.

The rights to commercial development will be available for bidding. The date for submitting bids will be announced after details are finalized, according to Alana Fernandez of the LSU AgCenter Office of Intellectual Property.

LSU AgCenter hybrid rice breeder Jim Oard said LAH169 has good grain quality with low chalk. “It has 50 percent less chalk than the commercial hybrids currently available,” he said.

He said LAH169 can have a respectable yield.

“The main crop yield performance of LAH169 in 25 trials in five locations across three years in Louisiana was 94 percent of RiceTec CLXL745, the most popular hybrid in Louisiana,” Oard said. “In limited trials across two years, the combined main and ratoon yields of LAH169 were nearly identical to CLXL745.”

The new hybrid is moderately resistant to blast, sheath blight and panicle blight, he said.

A seed crop of LAH169 has been grown at the LSU AgCenter winter nursery in Puerto Rico, Oard said. That rice will be harvested in April and will be stored at the Rice Research Station until a partner to increase seed has been identified.

Oard said hybrid development will continue. “We have a Clearfield hybrid in the pipeline,” he said.

Also available for the first time is a new Clearfield Jasmine-type rice named CLJ01.

It is superior to its aromatic predecessors, Jazzman-1 and Jazzman-2, in terms of yield and quality, said AgCenter rice breeder Adam Famoso.

The biggest difference is yield. “Over three years of tests off-station, on average it’s been 30 percent or better than Jazzman-2,” Famoso said.

Its aroma is on par with Thai Jasmine, he said.

Its quality is exceptional, with the lowest chalk of any rice grown at the Rice Research Station, Famoso said.