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Scientists seek stronger crops

By Li Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-02-16 07:56

Among the most worrying aspects of climate change is its impact on food supply.

With 10.7 million hectares of crops affected by the worst drought in half a century, China is expected to lose about 2.5 percent of its wheat production this year.

Related readings:  Official: grain security sound despite drought  China adds 292 million tons to grain reserve in 2008  Grain-for-green project 'fruitful'

Despite lacking sufficient proof that climate change is the direct cause of the dire drought that has lasted around 100 days, the impact of global warming on agricultural production should never be underestimated, warned Lin Erda, one of China's top experts in the field.

With climate change set to result in more extreme weather, higher temperatures and greater water shortages, research into climate-proof crops and adaptation technologies is crucial to ensure the nation's food security, according to Lin, a senior researcher with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

"In China, scientific research is being carried out on drought-resistant crops and water-saving technology," Lin said.

On Feb 8, the Ministry of Science and Technology published guidelines on growing winter wheat in the dry spell, including a list of 20 types of drought-resistant wheat seeds.

These seeds, which could be purchased on the market cost roughly the same as common varieties, are the result of research conducted by universities and academies in nine provinces in northern China.

Scientists have found that plants have their own mechanisms to cope with drought. Certain crop varieties are able to survive as long as water shortages are not too severe.

Through growing and crossbreeding these varieties, scientists are able to select and breed the most effective ones.

"Seed selection and breeding remains a major technological solution in terms of developing drought-resistant crops in China," Lin said. "Some scientists are also experimenting with the latest gene technologies to find answers".

Chinese scientists are using cutting-edge technology to identify genes that can help crops cope with dry weather.

"Modern biotechnology makes it possible to understand crops' ability to resist droughts and other natural adversities at the molecular level, which is more effective than the traditional approach of seed selection and breeding," said Xiong Lizhong, a professor at Huazhong Agriculture University in Wuhan, Hubei province.

Xiong and his colleagues are famous for identifying a specific gene of rice, SNAC1, which can enhance the ability of abscisic acid to shut the stomata, or leaf openings, in order to reduce evaporation.

Under severe drought conditions, genetically modified (GM) rice could produce 22 to 34 percent more seeds than non-GM rice, Science Magazine, a world-leading science journal, reported.

Armed with sequencing and gene-expression technologies, Xiong and his colleagues have identified about 100 genes, which are related with the ability to resist adverse conditions.

But only a few of them are effective in the field, Xiong said. His team will continue to separate and filter anti-adversity genes that can be used commercially, so as to avoid production losses from unfavorable natural conditions, such as droughts or high temperatures.

Water-saving irrigation technologies are also a focus for scientists seeking to tackle the impact of climate change, according to Lin.

"For instance, winter wheat in northern China grows through the winter and spring, which are typically dry," Lin said, "so determining the right time and right amount of irrigation is crucial for the area."

The country has also imported drip irrigation and spray irrigation technologies from Israel, but promoting such technologies needs a large amount of investment in rural infrastructure construction, Lin said.

Last November, China Meteorological Administration (CMA) filed a report to the Ministry of Agriculture, warning that some areas of the country may suffer a continuous drought running through winter and spring.

But the report failed to pinpoint the drought areas. This is because meteorology is not an exact science, Lin pointed out.

"China needs to improve its meteorological service, especially for agricultural activities," Lin added.

When a long-range drought has been forecast, the soil moisture content should be closely monitored in order to arrange effective irrigation, instead of waiting for the rain to come, Lin said.