Hybrid rice seed production hits record yield in Hunan

The trial production field, spanning about 200 mu, utilized a high-yield seed variety called Shuangliangyou 138, according to the association. Launched earlier this year, the trial project is part of a broader effort to overcome a longstanding bottleneck in hybrid rice production. Although hybrid rice is planted on over 200 million mu annually across China, seed yields have typically remained around 160 kilograms per mu, the association noted.

To increase yields, experts from the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center have devoted over two decades to developing new breeding methods and cultivation techniques. One significant breakthrough was the creation of a new sterile male line with improved outcrossing rates, which largely enhanced seed production efficiency. The team has also developed a comprehensive cultivation system for high-yield seed production.