Comparisons of regeneration rate and yields performance between inbred and hybrid rice cultivars in a direct seeding rice-ratoon rice system in central China

•Significantly higher ratoon season yields were observed in hybrid rice cultivars than inbred ones in DSR-RR.•Higher regeneration rate contributed to the higher ratoon season yield in hybrid rice cultivars than inbred ones.•Higher regeneration rate in hybrid rice cultivars over inbred ones was attributed to the higher dry weight per stem after harvesting of the first crop.•Hybrid rice cultivars may be more suitable for DSR-RR.