Researchers created a colourful 'rainbow rice field' through agricultural crossbreeding experiments in Thailand.

Scientists opened the unusual tourist spot to the public during the Kamphaeng Saen Agricultural Fair 2022 in Nakhon Pathom province.

Visitors are free to snap photos next to rows of brightly-hued rice plants while the fair lasts until December 10.

Agricultural scholar Sumon Hoymala said: ‘The rainbow rice was created through crossbreeding between the Hom Nin rice, the white leaf mutant, and the Khao Kam Hom Nin varieties. We call this new rice Khao Sappasi.

'Some types of rice have distinctly different leaf colors. For example, the native glutinous rice variety called Khao Kam has purple-green leaves. Some may have beautiful dark purple leaves and stems.

'Pigments that give colour in rice leaves can be divided into three major groups: chlorophyll gives a green color, carotenoids give yellow to red shades, and anthocyanin displays fuchsia to blue.

'These cultivars of coloured rice appear bright and beautiful when planted in winter. All five rice varieties are in the process of being registered for the protection of new plant varieties.'