Abstract:Rice is one of important staple crops serving as the primary food supply in Hainan Province. However, food self-sufficiency in Hainan Province is low. Breeding elite rice varieties and improving rice yield are important to ensure food security. Based on the panel data of rice varieties certified in Hainan Province from 2003 to 2021, total information of the rice varieties during these 19 years was studied, and 14 traits data including rice yield, disease resistance and rice quality were analyzed. Results showed that 383 rice varieties were certified in Hainan Province in recent 19 years, including hybrid rice varieties of approximately 71.3%. The yield of the varieties in regional trials and production trials reflected the low level of rice yield per mu in Hainan. In terms of variety traits, the certified varieties were mainly with 110-160 grains per panicles, which might be characteristic due to Hainan climate conditions. Most of the varieties were not resistant to blast or bacterial blight, with less than 0.5% of double resistant varieties. The amylose content of the varieties was relatively high, but a slowly decreasing trend was demonstrated with the years went by. Only about 24% of the rice varieties reached the third grade and above of the indica rice quality, which meant a poor level of the rice quality totally. Therefore, in order to improve rice yield, variety resistance and rice quality, germplasm innovation and breakthrough are needed to breed new rice elite varieties in Hainan province. In addition, it is also necessary to revise registration standard for rice variety and strengthen researches on rice cultivation and extension of elite rice varieties to improve the level of rice production in Hainan Province. The combination of elite varieties and good cultivation could better ensure food security and could also promote the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port.