Dry Breeding and Dry Planting Techniques for Indica Hybrid Rice in Karst Mountain Areas of Gejiu City

Based on the arable land situation in Gejiu City,upland dry planting of indica hybrid rice is being expanded in Karst mountain areas with a rainfall of over 1400 mm and an altitude of 1100-1600 m to develop grain production.This paper gives a specific description of hybrid rice upland dry seedling technology,upland transplanting technology,fertilization technology,field management,weed prevention and control technology,and disease and pest control.

Breeding and Application Techniques of a New Rice Variety Liliang-you 3822 with High Yield and Disease Resistance

Liliangyou 3822 is a novel indica hybrid rice variety that exhibits disease resistance,high yield,lodging resistance,and late maturity.It employs a self-selected two-line sterile line,Li 38S,and a self-selected restorer line,R22.This variety was subjected to a regional test of indica late-maturing groups in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in 2020.The results demonstrated that the average yield of the variety was 9.95 t/hm 2,which was 10.67%higher than that of the control Fengliangyou 4,indicating a highly significant yield increase.In the continuous test in 2021,the average yield was 9.74 t/hm 2,representing a 6.52%increase over the control,which also exhibited a significant increase.Finally,the average yield of the two years regional test was 9.84 t/hm 2,which was 8.58%higher than that of the control.In the 2021 production test,the average yield of the variety was 9.32 t/hm 2,which was 12.19%higher than that of the control,indicating a remarkably significant yield increase.In 2022,the variety was validated by the National Crop Variety Approval Committee(GSD 20220143).

On Significance of Heterotic Group Theory in Hybrid Rice Breeding

Heterotic group theory （HGT） has played a major role in supporting hybrid maize breeding for about 100 years. The basic content and studies of HGT, and its application in rice and maize were summarized in this paper. Additionally, difficulties and challenges for hybrid rice breeding in China were analyzed, and necessity and urgency in hybrid rice breeding by using HGT were proposed.

Practices and Prospects of Super Hybrid Rice Breeding

The great progress in super rice breeding both in China and other countries has been made in recent years. However, there were three main problems in super rice breeding： 1） the super rice varieties were still rare; 2） most super rice varieties exhibited narrow adaptability; and 3） current breeding theories emphasized too much on the rice growth model, but they were unpractical in guidance for rice breeding. According to the authors＇ experience on the rice breeding, the breeding strategies including three steps （super parent breeding, super hybrid rice breeding and super hybrid rice seed production） were proposed, and the objectives of each step and the key technologies to achieve the goals were elucidated in detail. The super parent of hybrid rice should exhibit excellent performance in all agronomic traits, with the yield or sink capacity reached the level of the hybrid rice control in regional trials. The super hybrid rice combination should meet the following criteria： good rice quality, wide adaptation, lodging resistance, resistance to main insects and diseases, and the yield exceeded above 8% over the control varieties in the national and provincial regional trials. To achieve the goal, the technical strategies, such as selecting optimal combination of the parents, increasing selection pressure, paying more attention to harmony of ideal plant type, excellent physiological traits and all the agronomic traits, should be emphasized. The yield of seed production should reach 3.75 t/ha and 5.25 t/ha for the super hybrid rice combinations derived from early-season and middle-season types of male sterile lines, respectively. The main technologies for raising seed production yield included selecting optimum seed production site, using the male sterile line with large sink capacity and good outcrossing characteristics, and improving the amount of the pollen by intensive cultivation of the male parent. According to the technologies of the three-step breeding on super hybrid rice, two super rice parents, including a male parent 996 and a thermo（photo）-genic male sterile [T（P）GMS] line C815S, were bred. Furthermore, a super early hybrid rice combination, Luliangyou 996, which could be used as a double-season early rice variety in middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China, was bred by using the super rice varlet3, 996 as the male parent, and several hybrid rice combinations with higher yield than control variety in regional trials both of Hunan Province and state were bred with the T（P）GMS line C815S as the female parent.

Status and Prospects of Hybrid Rice Breeding in Jiangsu, China

Research on hybrid rice in Jiangsu Province, China began in 1970. Great progress has been made since then, which can be divided into three stages according to the development of hybrid rice breeding and production in Jiangsu Province. The first stage was beginning stage from 1970 to 1980, when progress was mainly made in cytoplasmic male sterile line breeding. The second stage could be described as developing stage, from 1980 to 1995, when indica hybrid rice was rapidly popularized, and japonica hybrid rice became popular later. From 1996, hybrid rice breeding in Jiangsu Province entered the third stage, when both indica and japonica hybrid rice breeding in the three-line system or intersubspecific hybrid rice breeding in the two-line system made a great breakthrough with the successful breeding of the hybrids Feyou 559, 9 You 138 and Liangyoupeijiu. The developing trend of hybrid rice breeding in Jiangsu Province is also discussed.

Breeding for Parents of Hybrid Rice with Maize pepc Gene

The results of the investigation on transgenic rice with maize C4-specific phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (pepc) gene showed that the transgenic rice plants with the maize pepc gene expressed at high level and the maize PEPC expression was inherited in the progenies in a Mendelian manner. The transgenic plants had PEPC activity of more than 10-fold higher than untransformed plants. As compared with untransformed plants, the panicle per plant, spikelet per panicle, 1000-grain weight and grain-weight per plant for transgenic plants increased by 14.9 % , 5.7%, 1.3 % and 13.9 %, respectively. By crossing the maize pepc gene was incorporated into the parents of hybrid rice, which were the photo-sensitive genie male sterile (PGMS) lines of two-line hybrid rice such as Peiai64s, 7001s, 2302s, 2304s and 2306s-1, and the BT type of cytoplas-mic male sterile (CMS) line of three-line hybrid rice such as Shuangjiu A, and restorer lines 5129, Wanjing97 in the spring of 1998. The following progresses were made: (1) The inheritance of the high-level expression of the maize PEPC was stable in different genetic background of rice; (2) PEPC activity of hybrid was the mean of the two parents. Its saturated photosynthetic rate (Pn) rose to 50 % higher than that of the receptor parent. These results demonstrated that it is possible to increase the vigor of the rice plant by transgenic approach with maize pepc gene; (3) The activity of PEPC in leaf could be considered as the major physiological index because the correlation coefficient between PEPC activity and Pn was 0.6470* * ; (4) We have developed three rice lines with maize pepc gene; (5) The selection method of high photosynthetic efficiency rice has been established, which includes soaking seeds into solution of hygromycin phosphotransferase to germinate, tracing the pepc gene by PCR analysis, evaluating the performance of the rice plants in the field and examining PEPC activities and Pn of rice plants with maize pepc gene.

Genome-Wide Dissection of Quan 9311A Breeding Process and Application Advantages

Germplasm resource innovation is a crucial factor for cultivar development,particularly within the context of hybrid rice breeding based on the three-line system.Quan 9311A,a cytoplasmic male sterile(CMS)line,has been successfully cultivated using rice restoration materials and extensively employed as a female parent in hybrid breeding program in China.This line was developed by crossing the CMS line Zhong 9A with a two-line restorer line 93-11,with the intention of eliminating the restoring ability of 93-11 while retaining the sterility gene WA352c from Zhong 9A.Quan 9311A effectively amalgamates the most favorable agronomic traits from both parental lines.In this study,the relationship between phenotypic characteristics and the known functional genes of Quan 9311A were analyzed using the rice genome navigation technology based on whole-genome sequencing.The findings revealed that Quan 9311A harbors multiple superior alleles from both 93-11 and Zhong 9A,providing exceptional agronomic traits that are unavailable in earlier CMS lines.Despite the removal of the fertility restorer gene Rf3 from 93-11,numerous chromosomal segments from 93-11 persist in the Quan 9311A genome.Furthermore,the hybrid rice Quanyousimiao(QYSM)and the restorer line Wushansimiao(WSSM)were used as examples to illustrate the important role of Quan 9311A as the female parent in heterosis.It was found that QYSM carries a great number of superior alleles,which accounts for its high grain yield and wide adaptability.These insights not only advanced the utilization of hybrid rice pairing groups but also provided guidance for future breeding endeavors.The study introduced innovative concepts to further integrate genomics with traditional breeding techniques.Ultimately,Quan 9311A signified a significant milestone in rice breeding technology,opening up novel avenues for hybrid rice development.

Pre-Breeding Genetic Diversity Assessment of Tomato(Solanum lycopersicum L.)Cultivars Based on Molecular,Morphological and Physicochemical Parameters

Appropriate knowledge of the parental cultivars is a pre-requisite for a successful breeding program.This study characterized fruit yield,quality attributes,and molecular variations of ten tomato cultivars during three consecutive generations under greenhouse conditions.Peto 86,Castle Rock,and Red Star cultivars showed the highest fruit yield(kg/plant),total phenolic compounds(TPC),and sap acidity.Principal component analysis categorized the evaluated fruit yield into three groups based on their quality attributes.A robust positive correlation appeared among traits inside each group.A positive correlation was likewise noticed between the first and the second groups.However,a negative correlation was detected between the first,the second and the third group.Molecular profiling,using seven inter-simple sequence repeat(ISSR)primers,produced 60 loci,including 49 polymorphic loci.The molecular analysis also pinpointed the highest genetic similarity(0.92)between P73 and Moneymaker,while the lowest genetic similarity(0.46)was observed between Castle Rock and Moneymaker.The cultivars P73 and Moneymaker showed the lowest genetic distance(2.24),while the highest genetic distance(5.92)was observed between Super Marmand and Peto86,on the one hand,and between Castle Rock and Moneymaker,on the other hand.The chemical analysis of fruit sap indicated the highest levels of TPC,total flavonoids,anthocyanin,ascorbic acid and total soluble solids in Peto 86 and Castle Rock cultivars.Phylogeny analysis of tomato cultivars based on morphological and molecular attributes indicated four distinct clades.Peto 86,Castle Rock,and Red star cultivars can be recommended for the tomato hybridization breeding programs in the future,with other tomato cultivars as potentially high-yielding parents.

Development and application of marker-assisted reverse breeding using hybrid maize germplasm

Humankind has been through different periods of agricultural improvement aiming at enhancing our food supply and the performance of food crops. In recent years, whole genome sequencing and deep understanding of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms have facilitated new plant breeding approaches to meet the challenge of growing population, dwindling resources, and changing climate. Here we proposed a simple and fast molecular breeding method, marker-assisted reverse breeding（MARB）, which will revert any maize hybrid into inbred lines with any level of required similarity to its original parent lines. Since all the pericarp DNA of a hybrid is from the maternal parent, whereas one half of the embryo DNA is from the maternal parent and the other half from the paternal parent, so we firstly extract DNA from seed embryo and pericarp of a selected elite hybrid separately and then we derived the genotypes of the two parents with high-density single nucleotide polymorphism（SNP） chips. The following marker-assisted selection was performed based on an Illumina low-density SNP chip designed with 192 SNPs polymorphic between the two parental genotypes, which were uniformly distributed on 10 maize chromosomes. This method has the advantages of fast speed, fixed heterotic mode, and quick recovery of beneficial parental genotypes compared to traditional pedigree breeding using elite hybrids. Meanwhile, MARB has the advantage of not requiring sophisticated transformation and double haploid（DH） technologies over RNA interference（RNAi）-mediated reverse breeding. In addition, MARB can also be used with feed corn harvested from big farms, which is often similar to F_2 populations, and the relevant transgenes in the population can be eliminated by marker-assisted selection. As a result, the whole global commercial maize hybrids can be utilized as germplasm for breeding with MARB technology. Starting with an F_2 population derived from an elite hybrid, our experiment indicates that with three cycles of marker-assisted selection, selected lines could recover over 80% of the parental genotypes and associated beneficial genes in a fixed heterotic mode. The success application of MARB in maize suggests that this technology is applicable to any hybrid crop to breed new inbreds with improved hybrid performance but the same heterotic mode. As chip technology becomes cheap, it would be expected that polymorphism screening and following marker-assisted selection could be done with one all-purpose high density chip. Several issues associated with MARB were discussed, including its rationale, efficiency and advantages, along with food/feed and environmental safety issues and applications of MARB in variety protection and marker-assisted plant breeding.

Utilizing Dominant Early Maturity Genes of Sterile Line UP-3s in Hybrid Rice Breeding to Avoid High Temperature Season

A new sterile line UP-3s, which carries the Dominant Early Maturity Gene (DEMG), was bred on the farm of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). UP-3s and two check sterile lines, Jin23-A and Xie-A which do not carry the Dominant Early Maturity Gene, were crossed with a group of different maturity restorer lines, PB-1R, PB-5R,PB11, PB-13R, PB-20, PB-21, PB-22R, and PB-23R. Eighteen new hybrid rice combinations of these crosses were then tested at UAPB in 2012 and 2013. The results showed that panicle differentiation (PD) of hybrids from female parent UP-3s (DEMG) crossed with the 8 male parents, were earlier than the hybrids from female parent Jin23-A or Xie-A crossed with the 8 male parents. The PD of these earlier hybrids was before Jun 25 and heading was before July 20. Early PD and heading avoided the high temperature (over 34&degC) period which usually occurs after July 20 in Arkansas. The yields of these earlier maturity hybrids with female parent UP-3s were higher than those of the late maturity hybrids thatwereF1 progeny of sterile lines Jin23-A or Xie-A (these two female parent checks with non-DEMG). These results showed that the DEMG sterile line UP-3s can be adopted in making crosses with later maturity restorer lines to obtain earlier maturity hybrids to avoid the high temperature period in Arkansas.

Studies on the Developmental Genetics of Tiller Number in Three-line Indica Hybrid Rice

Following NCI design, the developmental genetic behavior of tiller number (TN) in three-line indica hybrid rice was studied using additive-dominance developmental genetic models and the corresponding statistical methods. The results showed that dominance effects were predominant for TN. The expression of those additive effects were affected by environment and genotype interaction, but the expression of dominance effects were not affected. Heterosis was the strongest in the middle developmental periods of TN. Additive effects and dominance effects were selectively expressed throughout in the entire tillering developmental stage. Analysis of genetic correlation between TN at different stages and the productive panicles indicated that a close correlation appeared earlier in the populations with higher heterosis than in those with less heterosis. Utilization of heterosis at the middle tillering stage might enhance the final biomass but reduce the percentage of productive panicles.

The Utilization of HB-red Flower in Hybrid Cotton Breeding

The HB-red flower trait came from the filial generation of the interspecific cross of upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.) and G.bickii.It exhibits pink petals and filaments,with a large

Breeding of New Japonica-indica Hybrid Rice Combination Chunyou 59

Chunyou 59 is a japonica-indica hybrid rice combination developed from Chunjiang 16A(a late japonica CMS line with dwarfness and early anthesis time)and CH59(an indicaclinous wide compatibility restorer line).It has the characteristics of strong heterosis,strong stem,good lodging resistance,large panicles,good cold tolerance,high yield and wide adaptability.It was registered and released by Jiangxi Provincial Crop Variety Appraisal Committee in March 2009.The breeding procedure,characteristics,major techniques of cultivation and seed production of Chunyou 59 were introduced in the paper.

SAR-3——a resource of diploid true breeding hybrid rice

In 1988, we found strain 9003 from compositehybridization of indica and japonica. 9003 pos-sesses characteristics of twin seedlings withfrequency of 15-20% of the investigated popu-lation. The highest frequency was 45.68%.Afterwards, we discovered that some twinseedlings had variabilities in chromosome set.As to a pair of twin plants, it may be 2n-1n,2n-3n, 3n-3n or 1n-1n. The changes in chro-mosome set also occurred in the plants devel-oped from mono-embryo seeds. All of thesevariants nearly account for 1% in our con-trolled experiment. We named the triploidplants SAR-3 and found that SAR-3 could be aresource of diploid true breeding hybrid rice.

Evaluation of some Newly Developed Diploid Hybrids and their Breeding Value in 4x-2x Crosses

The narrow genetic base in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) limits the progress in cultivar development.The rich diploid germplasm in the origin center of potato provide a unique resource for improvement of tetraploid potatoes.Seven newly developed diploid hybrids with 2n pollen production,all of which have S. phureja background,were developed and evaluated for their value in potato breeding.They were crossed as male parnets to six tetraploid Solanum tuberosum cultivars,and seeds in large quantity from eleven crosses were obtained.Main agronomic traits,such as tuber yield,tuber number,mean tuber weight,tuber shape,eye depth,skin smoothness,flesh color,and specific gravity,were measured for 4x 2x tetraploid progenies in seedling generation,and their parents as well.All of the diploid hybrids had some merit for specific traits and the DH39 was more promising;high specific gravity trait in some diploid hybrids was successfully introgressed into tetroploid progenies via 4x 2x crosses.These diploid hybrids have potential value in potato breeding.

Breeding of New Japonica-indica Hybrid Rice Combination Chunyou 284

Chunyou 284 is a medium- japonica hybrid combination,as well as an indica-japonica subspecific hyrbid with super-high yield,which was developed from Chunjiang 23A,a thermo-sensitive CMS line with very early anthesis time,and C84,an indica-japonica intermediate type restorer line with wide compatibility.This combination has the advantages of high yield potential,early maturity,excellent comprehensive agronomic traits and wide adaptability.It was approved by Jiangsu Provincial Crop Variety Approval Committee in June,2018.The breeding process,main characteristics,cultivation techniques and seed production points of the combination were introduced.

Lodging-Resistance Breeding of Platycodon grandiflorus Using Distant Hybridization

The distant hybridization was used in lodging-resistance breeding of Platycodon grandiflorus. The parents were Platycodon grandiflorus (♀) and Campanula medium (♂). 187 seeds of F1 were harvested by using the inter-generic hybridization in 2009 and 2010, 2 repeat, and 88 normal plants were obtained. The characteristics of leaves, stems and branches were the same as female for F1 generation, F2 generation, backcross generation and S1 generation, and there were some different characteristics with female which were flower colors, branching habit and plant height. A lodging-resistance plant was selected in F1, which was about 75 cm high, deep pink flower color and developed lateral branches. The DNA groups of each generation were separated by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis and there were not significant differences. Among the each generation many flower colors and forms were obtained.

Breeding of Yujingyou 50,a New Late Hybrid Rice Combination with Good Quality

Yujingyou 50 is a new high-quality late indica hybrid rice combination selected by Institute of Grain and Oil Crops,Nanchang Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Hunan Zhonglang seed Industry Co.,Ltd.The combination matured 3 d earlier than Tianyouzhan.It has the characteristics of moderate plant type,broad and long flag leaves,general tillering ability,colorless palea tips,large panicles with many grains,high seed setting rate,average 1000-grain weight,good color change at maturity,and rice quality reaching grade 2 of ministry standard.It was approved by the Jiangxi Provincial Crop Variety Approval Committee on March 18,2021.This paper introduced the breeding process,characteristics,cultivation techniques and key points of seed production of this variety.

Breeding of a Water-saving Drought-resistant Two-line Hybrid Rice Variety Wanliangyou 1008

Drought is one of the important factors limiting rice production,and the application of new water-saving rice varieties is urgently needed in rice production.Wanliangyou 1008 bred by Institute of Rice Research,Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences is a new two line hybrid rice variety with some good traits,including high drought resistance,high yield and good disease resistance.Wanlingyou 1008 was obtained by crossing drought-resistant high-quality restorer line DJ1008 and disease-resistant two-line sterile line Wan 25S.In this paper,the breeding process,characteristics and seed production technology of the variety were described in detail.