Scientists clone hybrid rice seeds in breakthrough that could cut costs for farmers

Scientists clone hybrid rice seeds in breakthrough that could cut costs for farmers

News:

According to research published in the journal Nature, scientists in the US and France have successfully created a hybrid variety of Rice Japonica so that some plants produce cloned seeds.

Important Facts

What are hybrid seeds?

1. A hybrid seed is created by crossing two unique parents having superior qualities. Crossing involves taking the pollen from the male and transferring it to the female.
2. Hybrid seeds are known for their high yield, pest resistance and climate tolerance

What is the issue with hybrid seeds?

A major issue with crops from hybrid seeds is that they do not pass their genetic qualities to the seeds during reproduction. So farmers who want consistently higher yields have to pay for new hybrid seeds every year.

Significance of the new research

The ability to produce a clone of a plant from its seeds would be a major breakthrough for world agriculture, especially in developing countries. It would enable farmers to replant seeds from their own hybrid plants and derive the benefits of high yields year after year.

Additional Information:

1. Apomixes: The process of asexual reproduction through seeds is known as apomixes. It is known to occur naturally in more than 400 species of wild plants but not in commercial crop species.
2. Major varieties of rice: Japonica and Indica are the two major varieties of rice grown around the world. Japonica is grown in countries with cooler climates, while, Indica is usually cultivated in countries with hot temperatures like India.