On The Variety Resources Of Rice In Taihu Area During The Period Of Ming And Qing Dynasties

Due to the superior geographical environment, Taihu area has the experience of farming with generations of diligent and kind people. The variety resources of rice experiences three important periods:origin period, main part development and development of different types. Evolution reached the pinnacle of feudal society until the period of Ming and Qing dynasties.It’s rich in resources, extensive in distribution and diversifying in growth cycle during the Ming and Qing dynasties in Taihu area. With the particularity of the geography environment, variety resources of rice have certain regional characteristics. The laboring people have collected and summarized the rice varieties in the process of cultivation. They named the varieties according to their appearance, texture, and then recorded the names of varieties in all kinds of local chronicles in detail. This paper records the rice varieties in Ming and Qing dynasty’s local Chronicles, and compares with the recorded in Song dynasty. It’s found that not only the high degree of inheritance, but also more and higher quality of rice varieties in Ming and Qing dynasties. These kinds of rice varieties not only help to ease the condition of the food shortage during rainy days, but also improve the grain output because of its adapting to natural conditions. At the same time, they provide advantages of common problems of food production and better food habit. By the way. it also provides rich and quality germplasm resources for the development of rice varieties nowadays.During the Ming and Qing dynasties in Taihu area, rice varieties have developed into the heyday of feudal society, and it is up to the geographical environment, social and political economy. The tempestuously changed climate forced the development of diversified varieties objectively. The technology of breed and protection promoted the inheritance and development of rice varieties. The agricultural policy at that time guided the all-round development of variety resources of rice. Commodity economy also placed a premium on optimization development of rice varieties to a certain extent.In a word, the variety resources of rice in Taihu area in the times of Ming and Qing dynasties made important contributions to the grain production and breeding in rice. It should be recognized as a precious historical heritage. We should understand and use the variety resources of rice correctly today, and promote the protection of resources and innovation.