often judged, including rapid growth and development, aerial spacing of tillers, tolerance to heavy
fertilizer application, resistance to lodging, leaf function at the late-growing stage, senescence of
the spikelet rachilla and axial branch, leaf and grain color change at the ripening stage, viability of
the root system, high photosynthetic efficiency, the relationship between source and sink as well
as adaptability, rice grain quality includes the milling, appearance, cooking and nutritional qualities,
and grain qualities (Yang et al., 1996)