Abstract: AbstractGenetic improvement of major crops for improving grain production, and the achievements and current status of crop breeding and biotechnology in China are reviewed. Chinese rice breeding focused on the use of semidwarf varieties in 1960s and wide-spread sowing of hybrid rice after 1976. Genetic improvement in wheat has raised yield potential from 1.5 t/ha to 9.0 t/ha, dwarfed plant stature from 110 cm to 80-90 cm, increased thousand kernel weight from 30 g to 40 g, and improved disease resistance for stripe rust and stem rust to match up the change of physiological races of rusts. Maize breeding in China could be divided into three stages, i.e., landraces and varietal hybrids in 1950s, double cross hybrid in 1960s, and single cross hybrid after mid 1970s. Adoption of hybrids, particularly single cross hybrids contributed greatly to the improvement of maize production. Anther culture has become a supplemental method in breeding programs and developing new varieties of rice and wheat. Transgenic wheat and potato have been produced, and currently Bt cotton is at pilot stage. Molecular markers for disease resistance and other traits have been identified and several transformation systems have been established. Combination of conventional breeding with biotechnology will further enhance the progress of crop genetic improvement in the future.Key Words: Field cropsTriticum aestivumZea maysOryza sativagenetic improvementhybrid breedingbiotechnology
Publication Year: 1999
Publication Date: 1999-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 1
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