Breeding Methodology and Practice of Super Rice in China

To meet the growing demand for rice production,the Ministry of Agriculture,P.R.China initiated a nationwide project on the development of super rice in 1996.Through efforts in research,super rice breeding in China has gained significant advances in the aspects of breeding theories,creation of breeding materials and selection and promotion of elite rice varieties.A creative super rice breeding path of the construction of harmonious plant type combined with the utilization of heterosis was proposed.Super rice plays more and more important roles in rice production.Totally,71 super rice varieties in China have been successfully developed and released to production.These varieties have 12 t/hm2 yield potential in on-farm demonstration fields,8% to 15% higher than the check varieties with high resistance to pest and medium to high level of grain quality,the total growing area of which has reached 23.7 million hectares,and rice grain production increased by 17.7 million tons from 1996 to 2009.This paper reviewed the development and achievements of super rice breeding in aspects of the breeding methodology and breeding practices,summarized the successful experience of super rice breeding in China and proposed the developmental strategies of super rice for the future.