The classification and inheritance of rice starch RVA profiles were studied by testing RVA profiles of F2 clonally propagated population and some varieties, including japonica, indica, and glutinous types. All the RVA profiles of accessions could be divided into six kinds based on the cluster analysis, that is A, B, C, D, E and F. Feature profile of sticky variety was type A. The profiles of indica varieties could be presented as B, C, D, E and F types and that of japonica varieties fell into D, E and F types.RVA profiles of the rice were mainly affected by apparent amylose content (AAC), but the difference of RVA profiles could also be detected in the varieties with similar AAC. The close relationship between RVA profile indices and sensory of low or middle AAC varieties suggested that the RVA profiles can be used as indirect index to evaluate eating and cooking quality. In four hybrid combinations, the component indices of RVA profiles of F1 were between those of its parents except peak viscosity and pasting temperature. Also, in F2 clonally propagated population, all the components of the RVA profiles showed continuous segregation,suggesting that all of them were controlled by a series of minor genes, although Wx gene may play an important role in determining the RVA profiles. These results may provide some new information useful for rice quality breeding program.
