Development of Hybrid Rice for Food Security

in the World

L. P. Yuan(China National Hybrid Rice R & D Center)

Rice is a major food crop

n Feeds more than half of the world population

n It is expected that 60%more rice should n It is expected that 60%more rice should be produced in 2030 than in 1995

n Currently 1 ha of rice production provides food for 27 people. By 2050, 1 ha will have to support 43 people.

Hybrid rice can greatly increase rice yieldincrease rice yield

What is Hybrid Rice?

Utilization of Hybrid vigor

(heterosis)

F1♀ ♂

japonicaindica

桂花黄♀ F1南京11号♂

japonica indica

RB207-1GDS

GDS/RB207-1

GDS/RB207

Hybrid vigor only exits in F1generation, so it is needed to generation, so it is needed to produce F1 hybrid seed every year.

By means of male sterile lines, large amount of F1 hybrid seed large amount of F1 hybrid seed can be produced for commercial production.

Normal anthers Degenerated anthers

Abortive pollen grainsNormal pollen grains

hybrid seed production

Current Status in China

n Total rice area: 29.5 million han Average yield: 6.4t/ha

Area of hybrid rice: 17 million ha(57%)n Area of hybrid rice: 17 million ha(57%)n Average yield of hybrid rice: 7.5t/han Yield advantage: over 20%n Feeding 70 million more people

annually

Recent Progress

Development

of Super Hybrid Rice

Yield standards of the Super Rice in China

Super Rice Breeding Program

Phase Yield of single season rice Yield increase

1990’s level 8.25 0

* Tons/ha at 2 locations with 6.7 ha each in 2 consecutive years.

Phase Ⅰ(1996-2000)

10.50 Over 20%

Phase Ⅱ(2001-2005)

12.00 Over 40%

Phase Ⅲ(2006-2015)

13.50 Over 60%

n Several pioneer super hybrid rice varieties had been developed by 2000, which met phaseⅠyield standard.

Achievements and Progress

n The average yield is around 8.3 t/ha in large scale commercial production

(over 1 million ha) in recent years.

P64S/9311

P64S/9311

n The goal of developing phaseⅡsuper hybrid rice was achieved in 2004;

Achievements and Progress

n The area under phaseⅡ super hybrids was near 1 million ha in 2012 and the average yield was around 9 t/ha.

Liangyou293

Y liangyou No.1

The Phase Ⅲ super hybrid ricebreeding program was achieved in 2011and 2012.

Achievements and Progress

and 2012.

The 7.2 ha-demonstrative location yielding 13.9 t/ha at Longhui, Hunan in 2011

Y Liangyou No. 2, the super hybrid rice variety yielding 13.9 t/haat Longhui, Hunan in 2011

Based on the above progress, thePhase Ⅳ super hybrid rice breedingprogram has been started. The yield

Achievements and Progress

program has been started. The yieldtarget is 15 t/ha and could be achievedby 2015.

Super hybrid rice in upland conditionEstimated yield: 7t/ha

Hybrid Rice outside ChinaHybrid rice commercialized in India, Vietnam, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia and USA, the total planting area was 5.2 million ha in 2012

n India: Area: > 2,000,000 ha Yield advantage: 15-20%

n Bangladesh: Area:700,000 haYield: 7 t/ha against 4.5 t/haYield: 7 t/ha against 4.5 t/ha

n Indonesia: Area: 650,000 ha n Vietnam: Area: 600,000 ha

Yield: 6.3t/ha against 4.5 t/ha for inbred varietien Philippines: Area: 191,000 ha

Yield: about 6.5 t/ha against 4.5 t/ha n USA: Area: 440,000 ha

Yield increase: >20%

Hybrid Rice in Philippines

Hybrid Rice Seed Production in USA

Hybrid Rice outside China

n PakistanBrazil

Good progress has been made in:

n Braziln Egyptn Madagascarn Liberia

Hybrid rice in Guinea With the highest yield of

9.23 t/ha, hybrid rice had a common yield level of 5-6 t/ha, while the local rice varieties yield only 1.5-2.0 t/ha on average in Guinea.

China initiated an agricultural aid project to Liberia from 2005 to 2013, which is carried out by our Longping High-tech Agriculture Co., Ltd.

Our experts also tested

Hybrid rice in Liberia

President of Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf visited in 2006

Our experts also tested hybrid rice in experimental field and the primary results are very encouraging: the yield of hybrid rice(6.5-7.0t/ha) was more than tripled that of local rice variety(1.5-2.0t/ha).

Up to now, more than 3000 researchers, technicians and agricultural officials from over 60 countries in Asia, Africa and South America have

International Training on Hybrid Rice Technology

countries in Asia, Africa and South America have been trained at China National Hybrid Rice R&D Center, which greatly popularizes the knowledge of hybrid rice and enhances hybrid rice research and development in these countries.

Hybrid Rice Training

Hybrid Rice Trainingin Liberia

Dec., 2005 to June, 2006

Conclusion

n Hybrid rice will play a key role in ensuring food security worldwide in 21st century.

If 50% of rice paddy covered by rice hybrids n If 50% of rice paddy covered by rice hybrids in the world, rice production could be increased by another 150 million tons.

n 400-500 million more people can be fed.

For the benefit of the people in the whole world, our Center and I are well prepared to help other countries to

develop hybrid rice