In a remarkable cross-border collaboration, the University of the Punjab in Pakistan and Wuhan University in China have been spearheading a joint research initiative focused on cultivating Honglian type hybrid rice under high-temperature conditions.
Over the past five years, these institutions have worked diligently to upgrade rice varieties, aiming to enhance yield, quality, and adaptability. Wuhan University has contributed seeds of three new hybrids, which have been successfully planted in a test field at the University of the Punjab.
Honglian type hybrid rice, a significant scientific achievement from Wuhan University, is renowned for its high yield, excellent quality, wide adaptability, high nitrogen use efficiency, and remarkable tolerance to high temperatures. These traits make it a valuable asset in the international hybrid rice sector.
In September 2023, Muhammad Ashfaq, an associate professor at the University of the Punjab and the leader of the research project, traveled to Wuhan with over 2,000 fresh rice leaves collected from the university's test field. Wu Xianting, a project leader from Wuhan University, highlighted the importance of these samples, stating, \"Behind these leaf samples may be the key information for unlocking the heat tolerance genes of Honglian type hybrid rice. It is of significance for global food production and climate adaptation in the future.\"
During his visit, Ashfaq also toured the Honglian type hybrid rice seeds production field in Luotian County, established in 2021. Spanning 0.8 hectares, the field is dedicated to promoting the trial planting of next-generation hybrid rice in Pakistan, underscoring the commitment of both nations to stabilize the global food supply and pursue sustainable development.
This year, the Luotian field achieved an impressive hybrid rice seed output of 4.68 metric tonnes per hectare. Ashfaq expressed his enthusiasm, stating, \"I hope to plant these rice varieties in Pakistan as soon as possible, not only for trial planting but for large-scale cultivation.\"
Since the inception of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, China has shared over 1,500 agricultural technologies, including advancements in hybrid rice, with numerous countries worldwide, fostering international cooperation in agricultural innovation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
