Chinese research team may have cracked secret to crossbreeding Asian and African rice
Chinese scientists have identified a genetic barrier that makes it hard to crossbreed African and Asian rice varieties – a discovery that could lay the foundations for creating high-yielding hybrids. While both Asian and African cultivated rices possess distinct strengths, crossing them often produces offspring with sterile pollen and low yields. A research team has now identified three genes…
Chinese researchers may have unraveled the mystery behind why African and Asian rice varieties struggle to crossbreed successfully. The issue lies within a genetic barrier that affects the reproductive capabilities of this hybrid offspring. The team identified three genes, dubbed mao, dun and jia, that form a reproductive barrier between rice species.
However, they also discovered a potential solution to this problem. The study, led by Wan Jianmin and published in Science, revealed that a protein named ORF10, encoded by the spear gene, damages the mitochondria, killing the pollen grains. Nonetheless, the shield and armour genes, ORF16 and ORF4 respectively, neutralize the spear's toxicity and send it to a cellular 'recycling centre'.
Crucially, one germplasm, a broadly compatible genetic resource, can largely overcome the fertility drop when crossed with both Asian and African rice. This discovery could lead to the development of high-yield, resilient hybrid rice varieties.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
