China's hybrid rice breeding research achieves a "fourth consecutive leap"

On October 10, in Hongxing Village, Hengbanqiao Township, Xupu County, Hunan Province, workers harvest super hybrid rice. Photo by Zeng Yong (Xinhua News Agency)

Economic Daily, Beijing, October 10 (Reporter Qiao Jinliang). The Ministry of Agriculture announced today that experts were organized today to measure the yield of the fourth-phase China super rice project targeting 1000 kg per mu, led by Academician Yuan Longping. The results showed that the 100-mu plot of fourth-phase super rice in Xupu County, Hunan Province, exceeded 1000 kg per mu, setting a new record of 1026.7 kg.

From the first-phase target of 700 kg per mu in 2000, the second phase of 800 kg per mu in 2004, the third phase of 926.6 kg per mu in 2011, to 1026.70 kg per mu in 2014, China's hybrid rice breeding research achieved a “fourth consecutive leap” that has attracted worldwide attention over 14 years.