Effect of Location and Year of Production on White-core in Rice Kernels for Sake Brewry Evaluated by Image Data

Abstract

By using image analysis, we examined the position and dimensions of white-core in the kernels of two rice cultivars for sake brewery, i.e. Hyogokitanishiki and Yamadanishiki. They were grown during the years 1992 to 1996 in Hyogo prefecture, and in 1995 and 1996 in Niigata prefecture. Standard images of white-core varied with the year and location when the kernels were obtained even for the same cultivar (Fig.1). It was suggested that the position of white-core in the kernels was stable in each cultivar irrespective of environmental conditions, whereas the dimensions of white-core fluctuated depending on the year and location where the kernels were obtained (Figs.2 and 3). These findings suggest that the position of white-core in kernels is determined genetically but that the dimensions depend on environmental factors.