Looking for the breakthrough direction of hybrid rice

As the saying goes, amateurs watch the hustle and bustle, experts watch the way. This exhibition brings together the varieties of all the well-known hybrid rice breeding research institutions and large enterprises, can it represent the current dominant varieties in various regions of the seed market? Can it reflect the direction of hybrid rice variety breeding in China in the next 3 ~ 5 years to a certain extent? In what areas will breakthroughs be possible in the future? With doubt, the reporter interviewed Min Jun, director of the High quality Rice Research Office of the Rice Research Institute of Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Q: what is the direction of commercial rice breeding in China?

A: from the small number of conventional rice participating in the exhibition, we can see that the proportion of conventional rice participating in commercial breeding is small, and there are not many enterprises involved. The main reason for the analysis is that it is difficult for conventional rice seed enterprises to control the provenance, even if the varieties are protected, it is also very difficult to protect their rights.

At the same time, the simultaneous development of three lines and two lines will be the norm for the development of hybrid rice. Three-line hybrid rice has made an important contribution to grain production and income in China since 1976, while two-line hybrid rice has a good momentum of development in recent years because of its advantage of easy combination. Judging from this exhibition, the current promotion in China is basically the same as the expected number of varieties of medium-three-line hybrid rice and two-line hybrid rice planted in the next 3 ~ 5 years.

Q: judging from the approved varieties, regional trial varieties and potential materials participating 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 test varieties represent the varieties to be popularized in the next 1 ~ 3 years, and the seedling materials represent the varieties to be popularized in the next 3 ~ 5 years. Most of the varieties approved in the exhibition showed good applicability and high purity; the regional test varieties showed high yield and strong stress resistance; the seedling combination showed strong specificity, higher yield and better comprehensiveness. The results show that the variety level of hybrid rice in China is getting higher and higher, such as Y Liangyou series, Shenliangyou series, C Liangyou series, three lines Zhongtianfengyou series, Wufengyou series, Nei Wuyou series and so on. and there are more enterprises. Compared with the original Jinyou series and T excellent series in China, this kind of combination showed better plant leaf shape and straight flag leaves, and longer grains and better rice quality than the original Weiyou series, Shanyou series and II series.

Q: the independent innovation of enterprises is irreplaceable. How will the variety pattern of "I have what he does not" be formed in the future?

A: we are pleased to see that exhibitors with scientific and technological strength are innovating independently. For example, Longping Hi-Tech has developed "Longliangyou Series", Fengle seed has launched "Fengliangyou Series", Ningbo seed Co., Ltd. exhibited "Yongyou Series", and Hunan Hope seed Industry has also developed "Wang Liangyou Series". This kind of enterprises take a certain material of independent innovation as the core, and gradually establish a variety pattern of "I have what I have and what I do not", so that the competition between enterprises may exceed the level of "he has my essence".

Judging from the varieties participating in the exhibition, there are 69 female parents and about 500 male parents, although it is not guaranteed that all excellent male parents will be matched with different female parents. However, excellent male parents such as "Huazhan" have 15 excellent combinations matched by different female parents in this exhibition. At present, the material exchange between enterprises is mainly limited to female parents. If the communication between male parents can be opened in the future, hybrid rice will certainly develop better.