Through what process did Yuan Longping successfully develop hybrid rice?

The success of hybrid rice is a "green revolution". Yuan Longping said: "I appreciate eight words, namely knowledge, sweat, inspiration and opportunity." Knowledge is the foundation, and it is impossible without rich knowledge; Sweat means hard work and diligence; Inspiration is the combination of theory and practice, the sublimation of knowledge and efforts; Opportunity is the superior socialist system and the needs of the country.

1One day in July, 960, Yuan Longping went to the rice experimental field to observe as usual, and suddenly found a rice with a special shape. When the plant is mature, the ear is large and there are many grains. If he gets the treasure, he carefully collects it and prepares to plant it next year. The next spring, he planted the seeds in the experimental field, but the result was disappointing. He didn't see any favorable traits at all.

However, Yuan Longping was not discouraged. After careful investigation and analysis, it seems that only according to the phenomenon of genetic factor separation of Austrian geneticist Mendel, rice without growth advantage will be separated. So he realized that the rice he found was a natural hybrid rice, which was exactly what he dreamed of!

According to these conditions, Yuan Longping was determined to cultivate artificial hybrid rice by himself, so he designed a three-line supporting scheme for rice, namely male sterile line, maintainer line and restorer line.

In order to realize the three-line scheme of hybrid rice, we must first find the natural male sterile line plants. Yuan Longping worked in the paddy field for more than ten days. 1On June 20th, 964, he finally found the male sterile plant.

On February 28th 1966, Yuan Longping's article on male sterility in rice was published in Science Bulletin. Years of planting practice tells us that the three-line method is an effective method for planting rice and has achieved certain results in production.

1979 in April, Yuan Longping read a paper in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, which aroused great interest of experts and scholars and unanimously recognized that China's research and popularization of hybrid rice was in the leading position in the world.

198 1 In July, American Western Oil Company came to China to shoot a color documentary about hybrid rice growing in Yuan Longping, which was called "In the Garden of People's Republic of China (PRC)-The Story of Hybrid Rice in China". The film has been shown in America and Japan. Japan's book Mysterious Rice Threatens Japan points out that the overseas legend of hybrid rice has brought a storm to Japan.

However, Yuan Longping was not satisfied with his achievements. He saw that the three-line hybrid rice still has some shortcomings, such as the heterosis is not strong enough, the yield increase is not large, there are no early-maturing varieties, and the quality is average. So Yuan Longping introduced the "two systems approach" on this basis.

The key of two-line hybrid rice technology is to cultivate photo-thermo-sensitive male sterile lines. The plants of this sterile line show male sterility under long sunshine (summer) and can be used for seed production. When the temperature is low in short sunshine (spring and autumn), the male plants become fertile and can bear fruit on their own. This characteristic makes it not only suitable for self-propagation, but also for hybrid seed production, thus reducing the maintainer line of three-line method and becoming two-line method.

Compared with the three-line method, the two-line method simplifies the production process, has strong heterosis and great potential for increasing production. Yuan Longping said: "The yield of three-line hybrid rice has been hovering for 10 years, and two-line hybrid rice is expected to emerge suddenly."

Two-line hybrid rice is blooming and bearing fruit in some provinces and cities of China. Hunan two-line early hybrid rice planted 6.5438+0.7 million mu, which was a good harvest. Compared with conventional varieties with the same maturity, the average yield per mu can reach 450 kg, the yield is increased by 50 kg, the growth period is shortened by 10 day, and the rice quality is improved by one grade.

Under the leadership of Li, the Institute of Hybrid Rice of Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences began to study the breeding of two-line hybrid rice from 1987. After 10 years' efforts, three sterile lines, KS-7, KS-9 and KS- 14, were bred. In recent years, a number of new restorer lines have been bred, which are 10 ~ 15% higher than those of three-line hybrid rice. It is planned to popularize the demonstration area of 3 million mu by 2000.

The cultivation of hybrid rice has a great influence in the world, and its research and popularization have developed rapidly. As early as 1986, Swaminas, director of the International Rice Research Institute, said, "I believe that Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center is not only the research center of Hunan and China, but also the research center of hybrid rice all over the world." During 1992, at the International Rice Conference in Manila, Philippines, FAO sponsored some countries such as Vietnam, North Korea and India to carry out research and popularization of high-efficiency hybrid rice, which set off the second upsurge of hybrid rice.

The two-line method of rice is an original method in China, another major change in breeding methods, and is listed as one of the major scientific and technological achievements in China. At the same time, Yuan Longping is also known as the "father of hybrid rice" internationally. He has successively won the first special invention award in China (198 1), outstanding invention award in the world intellectual property organization (1985), science award in UNESCO (1987) and Jean-Claude award in Britain (1988). Hong Kong He Liang Heli Fund Award (1994), Food Security Honorary Award of FAO (1995), Japan Nikkei Asia Award (1996), etc.

Professor Yuan Longping put forward three-line method, two-line method and one-line method for hybrid rice breeding. The so-called one-line method is to cultivate the first generation of hybrids that are not separated, which can fix the heterosis traits, save seed production and simplify the procedures.

At present, Yuan Longping is moving towards the goal of "one legal system" and will make greater contributions to solving the hunger problem faced by mankind.