Scientists have developed a new rice variety using ion-beam technology

The rice variety, which scientists named "Zhongkejing No. 5", in which "Zhongke" means Chinese Academy of Sciences in

 Chinese, was specially created forglutinous rice production areas in Anhui Province. The new variety is characterized by early ripening, high resistance to environmental conditions and efficient use of nitrogen fertilizers. "Zhongkejing No 5" it passed the regional evaluation test in Anhui Province. The cultivation of the new variety received support from the local government.

“We pay special attention to ion-beambioengineering for decades. This will help alleviate the shortage of good glutinous rice varieties, ”said Liu Binmei, Ph.D., a breeder of the new rice variety.

The team used ion beam mutagenesis incrop breeding to promote the development of molecular breeding. This technology has shown clear advantages in creating germplasm resources. Plants created through mutagenesis are sometimes called mutagenic plants. Since 1930, more than 3,200 mutagenic plant varieties have been created, 

In China, by 2020, more than 100 new varieties such as rice, wheat and corn have been developed using ion beams, making important contributions to the advancement of agricultural science and technology.

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