Hanaemaki and Sansanmaru: Low Amylose Content Rice Cultivars Suitable for Direct Seeding Cultivation in Hokkaido

Hanaemaki and Sansanmaru are rice cultivars suitable for direct seeding cultivation in Hokkaido, because they show high levels of lodging resistance and grain yield. The grain amylose contents of Hanaemaki and Sansanmaru are approximately 10% and 16%, respectively, which are lower than those of other cultivars for direct seeding cultivation. Because of their lower levels of amylose content, these cultivars showed higher eating quality of cooked rice in the sensory test compared to other cultivars. Thus, the low amylose content trait may be important for improving the eating quality of rice cultivars used in direct seeding cultivation in Hokkaido, as is the case with cultivars in transplanting cultivation.