Xueyan Sha, rice breeder at the Rice Research Station, is responsible for the development of both versions of Jazzman rice. (Photo by Bruce Schultz)

The LSU AgCenter has released three new varieties of rice. The varieties include a new medium-grain, a long-grain Clearfield and an aromatic Jasmine-type. Seed from the three releases will provide limited seed production in 2011.

The medium-grain variety has been named Caffey, to recognize the work of Rouse Caffey, retired LSU AgCenter chancellor who had been a director of the Rice Research Station.

Steve Linscombe, director of the station and a rice breeder, said this medium-grain variety has consistently out-yielded Neptune and Jupiter varieties in testing for the past three years. Its grain is bolder and similar to Calrose, a quality preferred by many end users.

The new Clearfield variety has been designated CL152. Its grain quality is superior to CL151, and it has more resistance to lodging – or falling over – and to straighthead and blast diseases, according to Linscombe, who developed this variety.

The new aromatic variety has been named Jazzman II. It has increased aroma compared with its predecessor Jazzman, which was released last year to compete with imports of Jasmine rice from Thailand, according to Xueyan Sha, the LSU AgCenter rice breeder responsible for both versions of Jazzman.

Bruce Schultz

(This article was published in the fall 2010 issue of Louisiana Agriculture.)