Science Bulletin 62 (2017) 11631164
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Science Bulletin
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/scib
Research Highlight
Hybrid rice: achievement, challenges and opportunity
Fangming Xie
Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co., Ltd, Changsha 410000, China
In commemoration of the publication of Professor Yuan
Longpings article, Rice Male Sterility, Chinese Science Bulletin
produced a special issue on hybrid rice for its 50th anniversary
[1]. This special issue reviewed and summarized all breakthroughs,
achievements, and research progress made in the last 50 years for
hybrid rice in China. From the simple concept of using male
sterility to explore heterosis in rice, hybrid rice development has
undergone significant advancement. After the discovery of wild
abortive rice plants in 1970 [2], different sources of cytoplasmic
male sterility have been identified and exploited with the relation-
ship between male sterility and its corresponding maintainer and
restorer lines intensively studied at genetic, morphological, and
cellular levels. As a result, the hybrid rice system of three-lines
was completed in indica and japonica rice varieties and successfully
applied to rice production.
Further studies revealed a completely different type of male
sterility, photoperiod thermo-sensitive genic male sterility
(P/TGMS), which was quickly integrated into hybrid rice produc-
tion after fine tuning the stability of male sterility. The change from
three-line to two-line hybrid rice system not only simplified the
process of hybrid rice breeding and seed production, but also cre-
ated and expanded the germplasm pool, allowing rice heterosis to
increase from 15% to 30% over conventional rice varieties. There
have also been scientific breakthroughs in the aspect of developing
genetic materials and technologies essential to breeding high-yield
and super high-yield hybrid rice varieties, mapping and cloning
male sterility/fertility genes, and applying molecular breeding
based on the knowledge of genetic and functional genes.
Wide-compatibility genes are used to breed inter-subspecific
hybrids (indica/japonica) combined with morphologic improve-
ment. Genes favorable for high yield and heterosis were identified,
mapped, and integrated into new hybrid rice varieties [3,4]. The
success of hybrid rice reversed the assumption of non-heterosis
in self-pollinating crops and modernized theory and practice.
Hybrid rice formulated the concept of genetic profiles, male
sterility mechanisms in cellular and molecular biology, and the
application and regulation of high-yield rice breeding. Innovation
in hybrid rice research and development has played a significant
role in achieving Chinas food security within three decades and
has also contributed greatly to global food security as more rice
growing countries follow Chinas success.
E-mail address: xfm@lpht.com.cn
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2017.08.002
2095-9273/ 2017 Science China Press. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science China Press. All rights reserved.
China is currently undergoing significant change as it modern-
izes its agricultural practices, from traditional methods to large-
scale farming, intensification, mechanization, and informatics.
Hybrid rice development mirrors this development, from tradi-
tional breeding to precision breeding with the goal of increasing
efficiency in crop improvement. Breeding objectives have been
changed from the singular goal of high-yield to a balanced multi-
objective goal of high-yield, high quality, resistances to diseases
and insects, and adaptability to varying geographical conditions.
New hybrid rice products should have increased yields but remain
at a high quality while adapting to new agricultural technologies
which encourage less chemicals, human labor, and water. Further
development of hybrid rice must rely on biotechnology, which
can provide essential tools and guidelines to help the transforma-
tion from traditional breeding to precision breeding [5].
New hybrid rice breeding programs should be based on preci-
sion design and implement all available technologies, with a focus
on newly-developed biotechnology, to create traits and mutants
purposefully while identifying and selecting traits and genes effi-
ciently to quickly integrate into a desirable or new variety. Genetic
gain has to be continuously enhanced at ever higher rates [6].
Knowledge of gene function and the tools for creating, identifying,
and selecting genomic information can help to obtain traits and
information required [711]. The informatics of genotyping, phe-
notyping and environmental conditions will greatly speed up the
transformation from experience based breeding to science-based
breeding. A well-organized commercial breeding team resulting
from a close collaboration between different shareholders of
research institutes and key seed industry players will increase
the scale of breeding and the efficiency of product development
to meet market requirements. Ultimately, the utmost goal of
hybrid rice development is to benefit the world.
Conflict of interest
The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.
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