Relationship Between Grain Yield and Yield Components in Super Hybrid Rice

Chinese super hybrid rice breeding project has developed many new varieties with great yield potential. It is controversial which yield component should be emphasized in super hybrid rice production. The present study was conducted to compare super hybrid rice with common hybrid and super inbred rice and analyze contributions of yield components to grain yield of super hybrid rice under experimental conditions, and evaluate relationships between grain yield and yield components of super hybrid rice in farmer’s paddy fields. Field experiments were done in Changsha, Guidong, and Nanxian, Hunan Province, China, from 2007 to 2009. Eight super hybrid varieties, one common hybrid variety, and one super inbred variety were grown in each location and year. Rice production investigation was undertaken in high-yielding （Guidong）, moderate-yielding （Nanxian）, and low-yielding （Ningxiang） regions of Hunan Province, China, in 2009. Grain yield and yield components were measured in both the field experiments and rice production investigation. Super hybrid rice varieties outyielded common hybrid and super inbred varieties across three locations and years. Yield potential has been increased by 11.4% in super hybrid rice varieties compared with common and super inbred varieties. The higher yield of super hybrid varieties was attributed to improvement in panicle size. Panicles per m2 had the highest positive contribution to grain yield with the exception under yield level of 10.0 to 12.0 t ha-1, and was positively related to grain yield in farmer’s field at all of the high-, moderate-, and low-yielding regions. Our study suggests that panicle per m2 ought to be emphasized in super hybrid rice production.

Practices and Prospects of Super Hybrid Rice Breeding

The great progress in super rice breeding both in China and other countries has been made in recent years. However, there were three main problems in super rice breeding： 1） the super rice varieties were still rare; 2） most super rice varieties exhibited narrow adaptability; and 3） current breeding theories emphasized too much on the rice growth model, but they were unpractical in guidance for rice breeding. According to the authors＇ experience on the rice breeding, the breeding strategies including three steps （super parent breeding, super hybrid rice breeding and super hybrid rice seed production） were proposed, and the objectives of each step and the key technologies to achieve the goals were elucidated in detail. The super parent of hybrid rice should exhibit excellent performance in all agronomic traits, with the yield or sink capacity reached the level of the hybrid rice control in regional trials. The super hybrid rice combination should meet the following criteria： good rice quality, wide adaptation, lodging resistance, resistance to main insects and diseases, and the yield exceeded above 8% over the control varieties in the national and provincial regional trials. To achieve the goal, the technical strategies, such as selecting optimal combination of the parents, increasing selection pressure, paying more attention to harmony of ideal plant type, excellent physiological traits and all the agronomic traits, should be emphasized. The yield of seed production should reach 3.75 t/ha and 5.25 t/ha for the super hybrid rice combinations derived from early-season and middle-season types of male sterile lines, respectively. The main technologies for raising seed production yield included selecting optimum seed production site, using the male sterile line with large sink capacity and good outcrossing characteristics, and improving the amount of the pollen by intensive cultivation of the male parent. According to the technologies of the three-step breeding on super hybrid rice, two super rice parents, including a male parent 996 and a thermo（photo）-genic male sterile [T（P）GMS] line C815S, were bred. Furthermore, a super early hybrid rice combination, Luliangyou 996, which could be used as a double-season early rice variety in middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China, was bred by using the super rice varlet3, 996 as the male parent, and several hybrid rice combinations with higher yield than control variety in regional trials both of Hunan Province and state were bred with the T（P）GMS line C815S as the female parent.

Yield potential and stability in super hybrid rice and its production strategies

China＇s Super Hybrid Rice Breeding Program has made significant progress over the past two decades. In this paper, we reviewed our studies on the yield potential and stability in super hybrid rice and discussed the strategies for super hybrid rice production. The results of our studies show that rice yield potential has been increased by 12% in super hybrid cultivars as compared with ordinary hybrid and inbred cultivars. The higher grain yields in super hybrid rice cultivars are attributed to larger panicle size coupled with higher biomass production or higher harvest index. However, grain yields in super hybrid rice cultivars vary widely among locations depending on soil and climatic factors. Therefore, it is important to tailor target yield to local conditions in super hybrid rice production. The target yield for super hybrid rice production can be determined by the average yield method or the regression model method. Improving soil quality is critical to achieving the target yield in super hybrid rice production. Favorable crop rotations such as rice-oilseed rape and novel soil management practices, such as biochar addition, are effective approaches to improve soil quality. It is needed to develop simplified cultivation tech- nologies for super hybrid rice to meet the changes in socioeconomic environments during the period of transition. There are such technologies as no-tillage direct seeding and mechanized transplanting at high hill density with single seedling per hill.

Analysis on Dry Matter Production Characteristics of Super Hybrid Rice

Six middle-season indica hybrid rice combinations, including five super hybrid rice combinations with the high yield about 10.5 t/ha and a check hybrid rice combination Shanyou 63 with a yield potential about 9.5 t/ha, were used as materials to study the dry matter production characteristics. The super hybrid rice showed a high ability in dry matter production and accumulation and its yield enhanced with the increase of dry matter accumulation. The advantage period of dry matter production in the super hybrid rice was mainly at the middle and late growth stages compared with the check. The grain yield had no significant correlation with the dry matter accumulation before the elongation stage while had a significantly positive correlation with the dry matter accumulation from the elongation to maturity stages in super hybrid rice. There were more dry matter in vegetative organs at the heading stage in the super hybrid rice but its contribution to yield （apparent conversion percentage） was averagely 4.3 percent points lower than that in the check. For crop growth rate （CGR）, the comparative advantage of super hybrid rice was at the middle and late stages, especially after flowering. Moreover, as the rising of leaf area index （LAI） and leaf area duration （LAD）, CGR enhanced. The total LAD and the mean of lAD per day of super hybrid rice was about 14.79% and 10.31% higher than those of the check, respectively. The results indicate that the high yield of super hybrid rice mostly comes from the products of photosynthesis after heading, which is shown by the increased CGR at middle and later stages. It is suggested that LAD character might be used to better explain the advantage in the dry matter production of super hybrid rice than LAI.

Identification and Purity Test of Super Hybrid Rice with SSR Molecular Markers

Five super hybrid rice combinations, i.e. HYS-1/R105, Pei'ai 64S/E32, Liangyoupeijiu (Pei'ai 64S/9311), 88S/0293, and J23A/Q611, and their parental lines were tested by means of SSR analysis. A total of 144 SSR primer pairs distributed on 12 rice chromosomes were used, out of which 47 detected polymorphism among the tested rice lines. Among all these primers, RM337 and RM154 produced polymorphic patterns in four or more of the tested experimental materials respectively, and they could distinguish among most rice genotypes tested. Twenty-four primer pairs, two on each rice chromosome, were selected to make a reference SSR marker-based fingerprinting for the rice lines. For most of the primer pairs, F1 hybrids mainly showed complementary pattern of both parents, which could be very useful to distinguish the F1 from its parental lines. In addition, 5 primer pairs were selected as special primer pairs for five hybrid rice combinations respectively. By combining the rapid, simple method on DNA extraction, it is suggested that SSR technique has wide prospective in variety authentication and purity identification.

Effect of Nitrogen Regimes on Grain Yield,Nitrogen Utilization,Radiation Use Efficiency,and Sheath Blight Disease Intensity in Super Hybrid Rice

Poor nitrogen use efficiency in rice production is a critical issue in China. Site-specific N managements （SSNM） such as real-time N management （RTNM） and fixed-time adjustable-dose N management （FTNM） improve fertilizer-N use efficiency of irrigated rice. This study was aimed to compare the different nitrogen （N） rates and application methods （FFP, SSNM, and RTNM methods） under with- and without-fungicide application conditions on grain yield, yield components, solar radiation use efficiency （RUE）, agronomic-nitrogen use efficiency （AEN）, and sheath blight disease intensity. Field experiments were carried out at Liuyang County, Hunan Province, China, during 2006 and 2007. A super hybrid rice Liangyou 293 （LY293） was used as experimental material. The results showed that RTNM and SSNM have great potential for improving agronomic-nitrogen use efficiency without sacrificing the grain yield. There were significant differences in light interception rate, sheath blight disease incidence （DI） and the disease index （ShBI）, and total dry matter among the different nitrogen management methods. The radiation use efficiency was increased in a certain level of applied N. But, the harvest index （HI） decreased with the increase in applied N. There is a quadratic curve relationship between grain yield and applied N rates. With the same N fertilizer rate, different fertilizer-N application methods affected the RUE and grain yield. The fungicide application not only improved the canopy light interception rate, RUE, grain filling, and harvest index, but also reduced the degree of sheath blight disease. The treatment of RTNM under the SPAD threshold value 40 obtained the highest yield. While the treatment of SSNM led to the highest nitrogen agronomic efficiency and higher rice yield, and decreased the infestation of sheath blight disease dramatically as well. Nitrogen application regimes and diseases control in rice caused obvious effects on light interception rate, RUE, and HI. Optimal N rate is helpful to get higher light interception rate, RUE, and HI. Disease control with fungicide application decreased and delayed the negative effects of the high N on rice yield formation. SSNM and RTNM under the proper SPAD threshold value obtained high-yield with high efficiency and could alleviate environmental pollution in rice production.

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer Level on Chlorophyll Fluorescence Characteristics in Flag Leaf of Super Hybrid Rice at Late Growth Stage

To compare the effects of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer at six different levels on the flag leaf chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of super hybrid rice, a field fertilization experiment was conducted with super hybrid rice Y Liangyou 1 as a test material. The photosynthetic electron transport rate （ETR）, effective quantum yield （EQY）, photochemical quenching coefficient （qp）, and non-photochemical quenching coefficient （NPQ） of flag leaves were measured at the initial heading, full heading, 10 d after full heading and 20 d after full heading stages. Results showed that the values of ETR, EQY and qp increased with rice development from initial heading to 20 d after full heading, whereas the NPQ decreased. During the measured stages, ETR, EQY and qp increased initially and then decreased as nitrogen application amount increased, but they peaked at different nitrogen fertilizer levels. The maximum ETR and EQY values appeared at the treatment of 135 kg/hm2 N. In conclusion, the optimum nitrogen amount for chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of super hybrid rice was 135-180 kg/hm2.

Comparative Analysis on Rice Plant Type of Two Super Hybrids and Shanyou63

The characteristics of plant type and physiological indices for photosynthesis were analyzed using two super hybrid rices, Liangyoupeijiu and LiangyouE32 as materials, and an indica hybrid, Shan-you63 as a control. Based on the present analysis and various theories and breeding practices on rice plant type, a model of plant ideotype for super hybrid rice (indica) in the lower reaches of Yangtze River Valley was proposed. This was: a length of 35 - 40 cm for top leaf with a width of 2 cm, and that of 50 - 55 cm and 55-60 cm, respectively, for the second and third leaves from top, meanwhile, having a leaf angle of 5°, 10°and 15° respectively, and a curvature of 1 - 1. 5 cm-1for the leaf face at heading stage; the uppermost three leaves keeping their activities for as long as 70 d, which could lead a LAI of 3 at full ripeness; loose plant type with thin (SLW=2.5-3 g cm-2, dry weight) and curve-slant leaves during early growing stage, and compact plant type by thick (SLW=4 - 5 g cm-2) and erect leaves during the middle and late growing stages; with a coefficient of light extinction of 0. 3 - 0. 4, which allowed for an optimal LAI high of 8-10 during the middle growth period; plant height of 110-120 cm, with 2 - 4 cm basal internode and a long uppermost internode occupying 45% of total stem length; 25 - 28 cm panicle with 8-10 spikelets per centimeter showing bend-type in ripening; a rich chlorophyll which led to a high net photosynthetic rate, and tolerance to light shading and photooxidation which is of benefit to increasing the adaptability to varying light conditions.

Yield and tillering response of super hybrid rice Liangyoupeijiu to tillage and establishment methods

Tillering is an important agronomic trait for rice grain production. To evaluate yield and tillering response, Liangyoupeijiu(super hybrid rice) was grown in Hunan, China during 2011–2012 under different methods of tillage(conventional and no-tillage system) and crop establishment methods(transplanting at a spacing of 20 cm × 20 cm with one seedling per hill and direct seeding at a seeding rate of 22.5 kg ha-1). Our results revealed that, at maximum tillering(Max.) and at maturity(MA) stages, direct seeding(DS) resulted in 22% more tillers than transplanting(TP) irrespective of tillage system. Tiller mortality reached a peak between panicle initiation(PI) and booting(BT) stages, and was 16% higher under conventional tillage(CT) than under no-tillage(NT). Transplanting required 29% more time for the completion of tillering and less for DS. Tillering rate was 43% higher in DS than TP under either CT or NT. There was a positive correlation between panicle number per m2and maximum tiller number per m2, but not panicle-bearing tiller rate. The panicle bearing tiller rate was higher under DS than TP and higher under NT than CT. Tiller dry weight gradually increased up to heading(HD) stage, and was 14% higher under TP than DS. Leaf area(cm2tiller-1) gradually increased from Max. to HD stage and then decreased by 34% in conventional tillage transplanting(CTTP) and 45% in no-tillage transplanting(NTTP) from 12DAH–24DAH(days after heading), but was similar(35%) under DS under either CT or NT. Grain yield was higher under CTTP owing to the larger sink size(heavier panicle, more spikelets in per cm length of panicle) than under DS.

Effects of Plant Density and Nitrogen Application Rate on Grain Yield and Nitrogen Uptake of Super Hybrid Rice

The nitrogen uptake, yield and its components for two super-high-yielding hybrid rice combinations, Guodao 6 and Eryou 7954 were investigated under different plant densities （15, 18, and 21 plants/m^2） and different nitrogen application rates （120, 150, 180, and 210 kg/hm^2）. The experiment was conducted on loam soil during 2004-2006 at the experimental farm of the China National Rice Research Institute in Hangzhou, China. In these years, the two hybrid rice cleady showed higher yield at a plant density of 15 plants/m^2 with a nitrogen application rate of 180 kg/hm^2. Guodao 6 produced an average grain yield of 10 215.6 kg/hm^2 across the three years, while the yield of Eryou 7954 was 9 633.0 kg/hm^2. With fewer plants per unit-area and larger plants in the plots, the two hybrid rice produced more panicles per plant in three years. The highest nitrogen uptake of the two hybrid rice was at a plant density of 15 plants/m^2 with a nitrogen application rate of 180 kg/hm^2. Further increasing nitrogen application rate was not advantageous for nitrogen uptake in super-high-yielding rice under the same plant density.

Study on the Practice and High-yielding Mechanism of Super-sparse-cultivation Associated with Maximum-tiller Seedling of Hybrid Rice

In this paper, a new cultivation practice-super-sparse-cultivation associated with maximum-tiller seedling (SSCMTS) of hybrid rice was proposed and its high-yielding mechanism was studied. The results showed that the practice of SSCMTS in hybrid rice could not only increase grain yield but also save seeds and labor. It was a new high-yielding way for the late transplanting seedlings and heavy panicle type hybrid rice cultivars to further utilize the high-yielding potential of hybrid rice cultivars. The increasing number of spikelets and ideal grain -filling were the direct factors for the high yield of SSCMTS in hybrid rice, and those high-yielding factors relied on high quality seedlings, sturdy individuals, high quality population and vigorous later growth.

Advances and prospects of super rice breeding in China

Super rice breeding in China has been very successful over the past 3 decades, and the Chinese government has made great efforts to support breeding and cultivation of both conventional and hybrid super rice. In this review, we focus on the progress in and potential of super rice breeding. After the establishment of the breeding theory and strategy of ＂generating an ideotype with strong heterosis through inter-subspecies hybridization, by using gene pyramiding to combine elite traits through composite-crossing to breed super rice varieties with both ideotype and strong hybrid vigor＂, a series of major breakthroughs have been achieved in both conventional and super hybrid rice breeding. A number of new genetic materials with ideotype have been created successfully, and the Ministry of Agriculture of China has approved 156 novel super rice varieties and combinations for commercialization. During the Developing the Super Rice Varieties Program, great attention has also been paid to the integration and demonstration of the rice production technology. Collaboration between industry and university researchers has led to technological innovations and initiation of a demonstration system for super hybrid rice. With widespread cultivation of super rice with higher quality and yield, as well as resistance or tolerance to abiotic or biotic stresses, the yield of rice production per unit has reached a new level. In addition to increased quality and yield, hybrid rice breeding has also led to improvements in many other agronomic traits, such as resistance to pests and diseases, resistance to lodging, and optimized light distribution in population. Achievements in super rice breeding and innovation in rice production have made major contributions to the progress in rice sciences and worldwide food security.

Effects of soilless substrates on seedling quality and the growth of transplanted super japonica rice

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soilless substrates of hydroponically grown long-mat seedlings （HLMS） on seedling quality and field growth characteristics of transplanted super japonica rice. A widely grown conventional super japonica rice cultivar （Wuyunjing 23） was selected as the test material. The effect of HLMS on seedling quality, mechanical transplantation quality, field growth characteristics, yield, and benefit-cost ratio were compared with seedlings grown in organic substrates and traditional nutritive soil, whJch was selected as the control. Root number, root twJstJng power and root activity of seedlings cultivated by HLMS were decreased compared to that of the organic substrates andcontrol. However, seedling root length as well as aboveground growth were increased compared to the organic substrates and control seed- lings. In the HLMS, the content of gibberellin acid （GA3） decreased while abscisic acid （ABA） content increased compared to that of the organic substrates and control seedlings. During the early stages after transplanting, the re-greening of HLMS was delayed compared to that of the organic substrates and control seedlings. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences in tiller dynamics and crop yield among the HLMS, organic substrates and control treatments. The effects of HLMS on seedling production were similar to those of the organic substrates and traditional nutritive soil in the present study, suggesting that HLMS have the potential to replace traditional nutritive soil in seedling production without decreasing crop yield. Finally, it is important to reduce organic substrates and topsoil dependence during rice seedling production and worthwhile to consider HLMS popularization and its application on a larger scale.

Discussion on strategy of grain quality improvement for super high yielding japonica rice in Northeast China

japonica rice is mainly distributed in Northeast China and accounts for 44.6% of the total cultivated area of japonica rice in China. The comprehensive using of inter-subspecies heterosis is the main breeding mode of super japonica rice varieties in this region. Improving rice quality at relative high yielding level is the current research focus. Performing crosses between indica and japonica lines allows for the recombination of regulatory genes and genetic backgrounds, leading to complicated genetic rice quality characteristics, which can be used to explore patterns of quality improvement. In the present study, we utilize recombinant inbred lines （RILs） derived from indica-japonica hybridization to analyze the effect factors of rice quality derived from genetic factors, which contain both regulatory genes concerning rice quality and genetic backgrounds＇ random introduction frequency coming from indica （Di value）, and the improvement strategy was further discussed. The regulatory genes involved in amylase content （Wx） and nitrogen utilization efficiency （NRT1.1B） were the major factors affecting the amylose content （AC） and protein content （PC） in RILs, respectively. Both the Di value and the major grain width gene （GS5） had regulatory effects on milled rice width （MRW） in RILs, and their interaction explained the major variance of MRW in the RILs. With the mediation of MRW and chalkiness degree （C）, Di value had a further impact on head rice rate （HR）, which was relatively poor when the Di value was over 40%. In Northeast China, the Di value should be lowered by backcrossing or multiple crosses during the breeding of indica-japonica hybridization to maintain the whole better HR and further to emphasize the use of favorable genes in individual selection.

Hybrid rice achievements, development and prospect in China

This article reviews the history and progress of hybrid rice development. Hybrid rice research was initiated back in 1964, and commercialized in 1976. Three-line and two-line system hybrid rice were developed in 1974 and 1995, respectively. Research on super hybrid rice, which was first launched by Ministry of Agriculture, China in 1996, is discussed, and the great progress of super hybrid rice had been achieved with a new yield record by 15.4 t ha^-1 in the 6.84 ha demonstration location in Xupu, Hunan Province, China in 2014. And the mechanism of heterosis, the techniques of hybrid seed production and the modern field managements in hybrid rice over the past decades are also discussed. Additionally, this article dealt with the intellectual property protection（IPR） and development of hybrid rice seed industry in China. Major factors that constrain hybrid rice development are analyzed and possible solutions to this problems are proposed. Finally, the authors present methods to further increase production yield, and propose an improvement for breeding super high-yielding hybrid rice based on these methods.

Breeding of New Japonica-indica Hybrid Rice Combination Chunyou 284

Chunyou 284 is a medium- japonica hybrid combination,as well as an indica-japonica subspecific hyrbid with super-high yield,which was developed from Chunjiang 23A,a thermo-sensitive CMS line with very early anthesis time,and C84,an indica-japonica intermediate type restorer line with wide compatibility.This combination has the advantages of high yield potential,early maturity,excellent comprehensive agronomic traits and wide adaptability.It was approved by Jiangsu Provincial Crop Variety Approval Committee in June,2018.The breeding process,main characteristics,cultivation techniques and seed production points of the combination were introduced.

Hybrid Rice Research and Development in China and Its New Progress

HyBrid rice's history and its development up to date are described in the paper. Compared with the conventional rice. hybrid rice can increase grain yield by about 20%. Hybrid rice breeding in China has been advancing along the three-line method, to two-line method, to super high-yielding rive application strategically and its success in higher degree will be seen by the utilization of distant heterosis cooperated with bioteehnology.

两种产量水平下超级杂交稻氮素吸收利用特性

探明不同产量水平下超级杂交稻的氮素吸收利用特性,可为我国西南稻区超级杂交稻高产栽培和育种提供理论和实践依据。以2个超级杂交稻品种(‘德优4727’‘泸优727’)和2个高产常规稻品种(‘金农丝苗’‘黄华占’)为材料,于2018—2020年在四川省德阳市(高产点)和泸州市(中产点)两个生态点进行大田和盆栽试验,研究两种产量水平下超级杂交稻氮素吸收、转运及利用效率的差异。结果表明:大田条件下不同生态点间超级杂交稻产量、氮素吸收积累利用特性差异显著。高产点超级杂交稻产量、氮肥偏生产力较中产点分别增加8.3%~23.2%、8.3%~23.1%。高产点超级杂交稻播种(SO)—幼穗分化(PI)、PI—齐穗(HD)阶段氮素吸收量和氮素吸收速率(除2018年幼穗分化—齐穗外)均高于中产点,HD—成熟(MA)阶段仍保持较高的氮素吸收量。高产点超级杂交稻成熟期氮素总吸收量较中产点增加15.6%~33.7%。尽管高产点超级杂交稻氮素收获指数较中产点平均增加4.6%(2018年除外),但成熟期仍有大量氮素滞留在超级杂交稻的秸秆中,造成高产点氮素籽粒生产效率较中产点平均减少11.3%。方差分析表明,盆栽条件下土壤、土壤×地点、土壤×品种互作对超级杂交稻产量、氮素吸收量、氮素籽粒生产效率影响不显著。高产点盆栽超级杂交稻产量、氮素吸收量、氮素籽粒生产效率变化趋势与大田试验相似。高产点SO—PI平均温度高于中产点,HD—MA平均温度低于中产点;高产点SO—PI、PI—HD和HD—MA太阳辐射积累量(除2018年PI-HD外)均高于中产点。相关分析表明,高产点籽粒产量与PI—HD氮素吸收量、氮素收获指数呈显著正相关;氮素籽粒生产效率与SO—PI的氮素吸收量和平均温度呈显著负相关。中产点籽粒产量与氮素籽粒生产效率、总吸氮量呈显著正相关;氮素籽粒生产效率与SO—PI和HD—MA的平均温度呈显著负相关。因此,不同产量水平超级杂交稻产量和氮素吸收利用特性差异主要与不同生育期内的平均温度和太阳辐射有关。

优质超级稻新品种荃优212的选育与应用

荃优212是福建省农业科学院水稻研究所利用自育的优质抗稻瘟病恢复系福恢212与安徽荃银高科种业股份有限公司选育的荃9311A配组育成的中籼杂交稻新品种,米质达部颁一等优质食用稻品种品质标准,2018年通过福建省农作物品种审定,2021年被农业农村部确认为超级稻品种,是目前福建省选育的超级稻品种中首个米质达部颁一等优质食用籼稻品种品质标准的品种,2023年荃优212通过国家农作物品种审定。介绍了恢复系福恢212的选育过程和配制杂交稻荃优212的种植表现。

水稻小粒不育系新组合卓两优1126的高产特征

[目的]挖掘杂交水稻产量潜力,培育超高产品种,既是一道科学难题,也是“藏粮于技”安全战略。本研究旨在解析小粒不育系卓201S配组的杂交稻卓两优1126高产形成规律,为优质高效超级杂交稻培育提供理论支撑。[方法]2022年选用小粒不育系新组合卓两优1126和对照品种超级稻两优培九、Y两优900和湘两优900为试验材料,在湖南省隆回县统一高产栽培,系统比较卓两优1126与其他3个超级杂交稻产量及其产量构成、干物质积累、根系发育和抗倒性,探究小粒不育系新组合卓两优1126高产特征。[结果]卓两优1126产量极显著高于对照,较超级杂交稻第1期代表品种两优培九增产35.07%,较超级杂交稻第4期代表品种Y两优900增产17.84%,较超级杂交稻新代表品种湘两优900增产14.52%。卓两优1126产量的提高主要原因是在保持稳定千粒重和结实率基础上,通过平衡有效穗数与每穗粒数使群体总颖花数显著提升。与对照相比,卓两优1126单茎地上部干质量、根干质量和根冠比均极显著高于对照,表明卓两优1126根系具有显著的生长优势,能够很好地协调植株地下和地上部分的生长,有助于超高产的形成。卓两优1126株高适中,基部3节间总长和穗下节间长度都极显著高于对照,但基部第2节间的弯曲力矩和抗折力与湘两优900的差异未达到显著水平,卓两优1126在增加株高的同时保持了较强的抗倒性。卓两优1126耐低氮,稻米品质综合评级为部标优质2级,极端高温下较对照Y两优1928增产5.53%。[结论]卓两优1126在保持稳定的千粒重和结实率基础上,通过平衡有效穗数与每穗粒数使群体总颖花数显著提升,从而实现超高产。卓两优1126亲本间粒型存在显著差异,可以实现父母本混播混收的全程机械化制种,降低种子生产成本。另外,小粒型不育系千粒重仅为常规不育系的1/2,在制种产量保持不变的前提下,单位制种面积的杂交稻种子粒数比普通不育系多1倍,大幅降低杂交稻的用种成本。因此,以卓两优1126为代表的“小粒种高产稻”模式,能为解决杂交水稻当前困境提供新思路,是新的发展方向。