Objective  To fully exploit and utilize precious purple-black rice resources, strengthen the innovation of special rice resources, expand the planting area of purple-black special rice, and satisfy people's demand for healthy diet.

  Method  A new two-line special rice variety Ziliangyou 737 was cross bred from Zi 392S, a indica glutinous Dual-purpose Genic Male Sterile (DGMS) line with purple-black seed coat developed by Rice Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Fuhui 737, a self-breeding purple glutinous restorer line in the spring of 2014. The comprehensive trait performances of Ziliangyou 737 were investigated in variety comparative test during 2014-2016 in Fujian, Yunnan, Jiangxi and Anhui. During 2017-2018, it was recommended to join in the regional trial and production trial of the special-purpose purple rice groups independently organized by Yunnan State-owned Capital Operation Jinding Hepu Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. And during 2018-2019, it was recommended to join in the regional trials of late-cropping special rice groups in Fujian in order to evaluate its comprehensive traits.

  Result  The average yields of Ziliangyou 737 during 2014-2016 in Fujian, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Anhui and other local product comparative tests were more than 7 500.0 kg·hm⁻²; In the regional trial of special-purpose purple rice group in Yunnan in 2017-2018, the growth period was about 161 days, the plant height was 97.0 cm, the effective panicles were 191, 000 per 667 m², the ear length was 22.9 cm, the total grains per ear were 179.9, the seed setting rate was 72.1%, 1000-grain weight was 24.9 g, the amylose content was 2.6%, the average yields of the regional trials were 7 564.2 kg·hm⁻² and 7 569.3 kg·hm⁻² respectively, increased by 148.0% and 156.2% compared to control Guineng purple rice; the average yields of the 2018 production trial was 7 964.7 kg·hm⁻², increased by 169.2% compared to control Guineng purple rice; it was approved by the Yunnan Crop Variety Appraisal Committee in 2019 (Dianshendao 2019004). In the regional trials of the late rice special rice group in Fujian Province in 2018 and 2019, the growth period was about 123 days, the effective panicles were 163 000 per 667 m², the plant height was 108.4 cm, the panicle length was 23.7 cm, and grain number per panicle was 172.4, the seed setting rate was 79.33%, 1 000-grain weight was 24.7 g, amylose content was 2.1%, the regional average yields was 7 475.6 kg/hm² and 7,535.4 kg/hm² respectively, decreased by 4.39% and 3.26% compared to control Yiyou 673, it was approved by the Fujian Crop Variety Appraisal Committee in 2020 (Minshendao 20200067).

  Conclusion  Ziliangyou 737 has promising application prospects, with excellent comprehensive agronomic traits, strong heterosis, high yield stability, wide adaptability, deep purple brown rice seed coat, waxy endosperm, excellent rice quality, especially good food taste and other characteristics. It can be promoted as special rice in the hybrid indica rice area below 1 450 meters above sea level in Fujian and Yunnan provinces and other similar ecological regions.