China-Pakistan collaboration making strides in hybrid rice development
Published on: December 1, 2023.
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China and Pakistan Make Progress in Developing High-Temperature Tolerant Hybrid Rice
BEIJING, Nov. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A joint research project on the cultivation of Honglian type hybrid rice under high-temperature conditions has been making significant progress. The University of the Punjab in Pakistan and Wuhan University in China have been collaborating on this project for the past five years, with a focus on upgrading rice varieties in both countries.
Thanks to Wuhan University’s major sci-tech achievement in the form of Honglian type hybrid rice, this variety has gained recognition in the international hybrid rice sector. This rice variety is known for its high yield, good quality, adaptability, nitrogen use efficiency, and tolerance to high temperatures.
In September, Muhammad Ashfaq, an associate professor at the University of the Punjab and a research project leader, visited Wuhan University in Hubei province. During his visit, he brought with him over 2,000 fresh rice leaves collected from the test field in Pakistan. These leaf samples hold the potential to unlock valuable heat tolerance genes of Honglian type hybrid rice, which is crucial for global food production and climate adaptation.
Ashfaq also had the opportunity to visit 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 the trial planting of the new-generation hybrid rice in Pakistan. It serves as a symbol of the scientists’ efforts to stabilize global food supply and pursue sustainable development.
The hybrid rice seeds produced in the Luotian field yielded an impressive output of 4.68 metric tons per hectare this year. Ashfaq expressed his excitement and eagerness to plant these rice varieties in Pakistan, not only for trial planting but also for large-scale cultivation.
China has been actively sharing its agricultural technologies, including hybrid rice-related knowledge, with countries around the world since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013. These efforts further enhance global food security and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.
Source: China Daily
