Objective  Genetic diversity on phenotypic traits of rice landraces in Fujian was analyzed for effective germplasm protection and utilization.

  Method   The genetic diversity and correlation of 24 phenotypic traits on 1 040 rice landraces in Fujian were analyzed and categorized based upon the taxonomy, qualitative indicators, and quantifiable properties of the varieties.

  Result   Four of the phenotypic traits were classified according to taxonomic characteristics like sub-species and types of photo-temperature, lowland and upland, or glutinous and nonglutinous; 9 based on the qualitative indices, such as awn, culm-grouping, lodging-prone, and colors of apiculus, glume, leaf blade, leaf sheath, internode, or seedcoat; and 11 followed by the quantitative measurements including growth duration, plant height, panicle count, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, panicle length, spikelets per panicle, seed setting rate, 1 000-grain weight, grain length, and grain width. The Dingying varieties of rice cultivated in the province were indica, late, and nonglutinous according to the taxonomic classification but none of the upland type. Regarding the qualitative characteristics, most of the landraces were awn-free, susceptible to lodging, and had yellow apiculi and glumes, dark green leaves, green leaf sheaths and internodes, and white seedcoat. The genetic diversity indices on the 9 traits ranged from 0.216 to 1.252 with that of lodging susceptibility being the greatest. On the 11 quantifiable traits, the variation coefficients spread widely from 7.55% to 30.89%. Of them, 9 showed a coefficient more than 10% with that of panicle count being the highest. And the genetic diversity indices on the class were 1.947–2.092, which was considerably higher than those of the qualitative traits. The index on grain length was the highest. In 9 municipalities in Fujian, the average genetic diversity indices on the 11 quantitative measurements ranged from 1.815 to 2.028, and Zhangzhou had the highest and Xiamen the lowest index. Panicle count of a rice plant was found to significantly correlate with growth duration, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, and panicle length, while 1 000-grain weight positively correlate with length and width of a grain.

  Conclusion   The abundant variations on the genetic makeups relating to phenotypic characteristics of Fujian rice landraces provided a rich and important resource for breeding new varieties.