Chinese Experiences in Breeding Three-Line, Two-Line and Super Hybrid Rice

Abstract

Because rice is a staple food for over half of the world’s population, it is estimated that the world rice production must be annually increased by approximately 1% to meet the growing demand for food, resulting from population growth and economic development (Rosegrant et al., 1995). Rice is one of the main food crops in China with the second largest planting area, most total yield and highest per unit yield (Table 1), it feeds more than 60% of the population and contributing nearly 40% of total calorie intake in China (Cheng and Li, 2007). China is the largest producer and consumer of rice, and also a pioneer in the utilization of hybrid rice technology in the world. Hybrid rice has resulted in a substantial increase of food production in China over the past 40 years. China average rice yield has risen from 1.89 tons per ha (t/ha) in 1949 to 6.71 t/ha in 2012, which created the highest historical record (http:// futures.xinhua08.com/a/20121018/1042507.shtml). Hybrid rice has played an important role for total grain production to consecutively increase for nine years in China (http:// www.aqzyzx.com/system/2012/10/31/006110920.shtml).