Chinese scientists identify genes blocking Asian-African rice crossbreeding, unlock higher yields

A Chinese research team has identified three genes that prevent successful crossbreeding between Asian and African rice varieties and proposed a genetic pathway to overcome the reproductive barrier.

Scientists at Nanjing Agricultural University's State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilisation, led by Wan Jianmin, published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Science on 28 August. The discovery addresses a longstanding agricultural challenge: crosses between the two rice types typically yield offspring with sterile pollen and poor productivity.

Potential yield breakthrough

The research offers both theoretical foundations and genetic resources for developing new ultra-high-yielding hybrid rice varieties, according to China Science Daily. One study author told the newspaper that Asian-African crosses could potentially boost yields by more than 10 per cent compared with existing Asian hybrid rice varieties.

Two domesticated rice species

Asian and African rice are the only two species among the 24 in the Oryza genus that humans have domesticated for food production. Asian rice delivers high yields and excellent eating quality, establishing it as a global staple. While both cultivated rice varieties possess distinct strengths, combining these advantages through crossbreeding has remained elusive due to the reproductive incompatibility now traced to the three identified genes.

Source: South China Morning Post