OM468 - Promising rice variety for the 1 million hectare high quality rice project

Outstanding yield, healthy plants, large flowers

OM468 is a purebred, temperate rice variety, bred from the combination T3HAU1/OM5451‑625, developed by the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute, currently owned by ThaiBinh Seed Group Joint Stock Company for production and business rights. The variety has been recognized for circulation in regions such as the South, South Central Coast and Central Highlands since 2024.

With a short growing period, Winter-Spring crop from 100 - 105 days, Summer-Autumn crop only from 95 - 100 days, OM468 rice variety is suitable for many soil types and can be arranged for 3 crops/year.

The plant is 95 - 105 cm tall, has strong tillering, is sturdy, has a neat shape, large flowers, long grains, and bright yellow husks. The weight of 1,000 grains is 23 - 24 grams. In demonstration models in the Mekong Delta, the variety has an average yield of 7-8 tons/ha, and with good intensive cultivation, it can reach 9 tons/ha - an impressive number in the group of high-quality rice varieties.

Another highlight of the OM468 rice variety is its good resistance to common pests and diseases and its adaptability to harsh conditions. Photo: PV

Good disease resistance, wide adaptability

Production practice shows that the OM468 rice variety has good resistance to blast disease (level 1-3), is less susceptible to bacterial leaf blight, has moderate resistance to brown planthoppers (level 3-5), and in particular, this rice variety has a fairly good tolerance to salinity - a great advantage in the increasingly complex conditions of climate change and salinity intrusion in the Southwest region.

In models in Can Tho, Kien Giang, Soc Trang , OM468 rice variety grows well, has few pests and diseases, upright leaves, large panicles, even flowering, and low rate of empty rice. Farmers reported that the variety only needs to be sprayed with plant protection products 1-2 times during the season, and the cost of fertilizers and pesticides is reduced by 15-20% compared to the currently popular varieties.

Besides its yield and resistance, OM468 rice variety is also highly appreciated for its grain quality - a key factor to participate in the rice export value chain.

Sacred — Hung Cuong Agricultural Cooperative (Dong Thap) produces OM468 rice. Photo: Thuy Linh

OM468 rice has grains from 6.76 - 6.9 mm long, the ratio of head rice/milled rice is from 61.9 - 66.1%, the rice grains are clear, less chalky. The cooked rice is soft, sticky, rich in flavor and has a light aroma, suitable for the tastes of both domestic and international consumers. The amylose content fluctuates at 16.6 - 17.7%, giving stable and delicious rice quality.

Many export enterprises assess that OM468 rice variety can meet the technical requirements of high-end markets such as Japan, Korea, Singapore and the EU, when invested in processing and preliminary processing according to standards.

Towards large scale production

Mr. Tran Manh Bao - Chairman of the Board of Directors of ThaiBinh Seed Group said: Thanks to its comprehensive advantages, OM468 rice variety is currently being encouraged to expand its acreage in many localities in the Mekong Delta, Central Highlands and South Central Coast. In Dong Thap, production linkage models with enterprises have demonstrated the outstanding economic efficiency of OM468, with profits 10 - 15 million VND/ha higher than traditional varieties.

In particular, this rice variety is being considered for inclusion in the group of key varieties in the roadmap for implementing the 1 million hectare high-quality rice project chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

With wide adaptability, high productivity, easy pest management and low investment cost, OM468 rice variety is an ideal choice for concentrated, large-scale production, in the direction of organic, circular, or cultivation according to GlobalGAP, VietGAP standards.

The OM468 rice variety is not only a new step forward in terms of crop varieties but also opens up many prospects for sustainable and modern agriculture. Considered a “bright star” in the group of high-quality rice varieties, the OM468 rice variety promises to make an important contribution to raising the brand of Vietnamese rice in the international market.

Developing, expanding and introducing rice varieties into the production - consumption chain in a sustainable manner is the key to helping farmers increase their income, businesses stabilize their raw material areas and the Vietnamese rice industry affirm its position on the global agricultural map.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/om468-giong-lua-trien-vong-cho-de-an-1-trieu-ha-lua-chat-luong-cao-10306244.html