China and Pakistan Show Progress in Developing Hybrid Rice
Published on: December 1, 2023.
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Joint Research on Honglian Type Hybrid Rice Conducted by University of the Punjab and Wuhan University
BEIJING, Nov. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A report from China Daily:
The University of the Punjab in Pakistan and Wuhan University in China have been collaborating on a research project for the past five years. The focus of the study is the cultivation of Honglian type hybrid rice under high-temperature conditions. Additionally, the two universities have been working on upgrading rice varieties in both countries.
Wuhan University has provided three new rice varieties as seeds, which have been planted in a test field at the University of the Punjab. This collaboration is a significant sci-tech achievement for Wuhan University, as Honglian type hybrid rice holds a prominent position in the international hybrid rice sector.
Honglian type hybrid rice is known for its high yield, good quality, wide adaptability, high nitrogen use efficiency, and high-temperature tolerance. It has the potential to significantly impact food production and climate adaption worldwide.
In September, Muhammad Ashfaq, an associate professor at the University of the Punjab and the leader of the research project, visited Wuhan in Hubei province. He brought with him over 2,000 fresh rice leaves collected from the university’s test fields.
These leaf samples hold crucial information for unlocking the heat tolerance genes of Honglian type hybrid rice. Wu Xianting, a project leader from Wuhan University, emphasized their importance for global food production and climate adaptation.
During Ashfaq’s visit to Hubei, he also went to a Honglian type hybrid rice seed production field in Luotian county. This field, established by the two universities in 2021, spans 0.8 hectares and aims to promote trial planting of the new-generation hybrid rice in Pakistan. It showcases the joint efforts of scientists from both countries in stabilizing global food supply and pursuing sustainable development.
The Luotian field has achieved an impressive hybrid rice seed output of 4.68 metric tons per hectare this year. Ashfaq expressed his excitement and his hopes of planting these rice varieties in Pakistan on a large scale, not just for trial planting.
Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, China has shared over 1,500 agricultural technologies, including those related to hybrid rice, with numerous countries worldwide.
