How should the breakthrough directions for hybrid rice be sought?
As the saying goes, laymen watch the excitement, while experts watch the finer points. This exhibition brings together varieties from all well-known hybrid rice breeding research institutions and large enterprises. Can it represent the leading varieties in each region of the current seed market? Can it reflect to some extent the direction of hybrid rice variety breeding in China over the next 3 to 5 years? In what areas might breakthroughs be made in the future? With these questions in mind, the reporter interviewed Min Jun, director of the Quality Rice Research Office of the Rice Research Institute of the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Q: In what direction will commercial rice breeding in China develop?
A: From the small number of conventional rice entries in the exhibition, it can be seen that conventional rice accounts for a relatively small proportion of commercial breeding, and not many enterprises are involved. The main reason is that conventional rice seed enterprises find it difficult to control seed sources, and even with protected varieties, safeguarding rights is very difficult.
At the same time, the parallel development of three-line and two-line hybrid rice will be the norm for hybrid rice development. Three-line hybrid rice has made important contributions to increasing China's grain output and income since 1976, while two-line hybrid rice, owing to its advantage of easy combination-making, has also gained good momentum in recent years. From this exhibition, among the rice varieties currently promoted and those to be planted in China over the next 3 to 5 years, the number of three-line hybrid rice and two-line hybrid rice varieties is expected to be basically equal.
Q: Judging from the approved varieties, regional trial varieties, and promising materials in the exhibition, what is the current level of hybrid rice varieties?
A: The approved varieties in the exhibition represent the varieties currently being promoted, the regional trial varieties represent those about to be promoted in the next 1 to 3 years, and the promising materials represent those about to be promoted in the next 3 to 5 years. Most of the approved varieties in the exhibition showed good adaptability and high varietal purity; the regional trial varieties showed good yield potential and strong stress resistance; the promising combinations showed strong specificity, higher yield potential, and better overall performance. The results show that the level of hybrid rice varieties in China is getting higher and higher. For example, among two-line varieties, the Y Liangyou series, Shen Liangyou series, and C Liangyou series, and among three-line varieties, the Tianfengyou series, Wufengyou series, and Neiwuyou series, and other hybrid rice varieties are relatively numerous, and the number of enterprises applying them is also relatively large. Compared with China's original Jinyou series and T You series combinations, these combinations show better plant and leaf morphology, with upright flag leaves; compared with the original Weiyou series, Shanyou series, and II You series, they show longer grain shape and excellent grain quality.
Q: Independent innovation by enterprises is irreplaceable. How will a variety landscape of "what I have, others do not" take shape in the future?
A: We are pleased to see that all exhibiting units with scientific and technological strength are pursuing independent innovation. For example, Longping High-Tech has developed the "Long Liangyou series," Fengle Seed has launched the "Feng Liangyou series," Ningbo Seed Co., Ltd. exhibited the "Yongyou series," and Hunan Hope Seed has also developed the "Wang Liangyou series." With a certain independently innovated material as the core, such enterprises gradually establish a variety landscape of "what I have, others do not," which may make competition among enterprises surpass the level of "what others have, I refine."
From the varieties in the exhibition, 69 female parents are involved, and there are about 500 male parents, although it cannot be guaranteed that all excellent male parents are combined with different female parents. But for an excellent male parent such as "Huazhan," this exhibition alone had 15 excellent combinations paired with different female parents. At present, material exchange among enterprises is mainly limited to female parents. If the exchange of male parents can be opened up in the future, hybrid rice will certainly develop even better.