「Miaoli No. 1」: The new rice variety bred especially for brewing

「Miaoli No. 1」 (ML 1) was released in 2009 by Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station. ML 1 was the progeny of crossing Nortai with Tai-Keng 6, which is suitable for local cultivation and brewing. The heart of the grains is tinted whiter showed higher chalkiness and has stronger water-absorbing ability. It can be made into sake with light, delicate and dry flavors. In the paddy field, this rice variety showed stronger lodging-resistance traits and less nitrogen-fertilizer applications. Its yield was obviously lower than the regular check variety. Since it was selected and bred for special brewing requirements, it should be popularized in cultivation on its quality rather than its yield.

「Miaoli No. 2」: The new rice variety bred especially for eating quality in northern part of Taiwan

「Miaoli No. 2」 (ML 2) was released in 2009 by Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station. ML 2 was the progeny of crossing Tai-Keng Yu 47359 with F ₁ of Koshilikari / Taichung Sen 3, which is good eating quality for northern part in Taiwan. The plant type of ML 2 was elect and its maturity was two- day earlier than that of Tai-Keng 9 (TK 9). The cooked rice of ML 2 was soft as TK 9. The mean grain yields in northern part of the regional trails in 2007 and 2008 were 3.2% and 18.8% higher than those of the check variety, TK 9 in the first season crop and the second season crop, respectively. Since it was selected for good eating quality requirements and showed less nitrogen-fertilizer applications in the paddy field. So it should be demonstrated and extended in cultivation with reasonable nitrogen fertilizer, 100~120 kg/ha.

Paddy field Painting

The」paddy field painting」 which is made up by planting rice varieties of different leaf colors according to pre-designed fashions so that to form a special painting at the ripening stage with such a totem as 「LET US TO BE MARRIED」 in a big piece of rice, etc. The beautiful and romantic scenery of vast area of rice fields is really very special which attracted many visitors, especially young couples come over to take pictures and even as the site of engagement for the young lovers. This idea originated by this Station is to promote farm-tourism at the leisure time every year in Miaoli County.

Fig. 1. Plant type of 「Miaoli No. 1」 (middle), Nortai (left), and TK6 (right), respectively.

Fig. 2. Panicle of 「Miaoli No. 1」 (right) and Nortai (left), respectively.

Fig. 3. Grain, brown rice and milled rice of 「Miaoli No. 1」 (middle), Nortai (left), and TK6 (right), respectively.

Fig. 4. Plant type of 「Miaoli No. 2」 (left) and TK9 (right), respectively.

Fig. 5. Grain, brown rice and milled rice of 「Miaoli No. 2」 from left to right.