Hybrid Rice Production: A Worldwide Review of Floral Traits and Breeding Technology, with Special Emphasis on China

Abstract

Rice is an important diet source for the majority of the world’s population, and meeting the growing need for rice requires significant improvements at the production level. Hybrid rice production has been a significant breakthrough in this regard, and the floral traits play a major role in the development of hybrid rice. In grass species, rice has structural units called florets and spikelets and contains different floret organs such as lemma, palea, style length, anther, and stigma exsertion. These floral organs are crucial in enhancing rice production and uplifting rice cultivation at a broader level. Recent advances in breeding techniques also provide knowledge about different floral organs and how they can be improved by using biotechnological techniques for better production of rice. The rice flower holds immense significance and is the primary focal point for researchers working on rice molecular biology. Furthermore, the unique genetics of rice play a significant role in maintaining its floral structure. However, to improve rice varieties further, we need to identify the genomic regions through mapping of QTLs (quantitative trait loci) or by using GWAS (genome-wide association studies) and their validation should be performed by developing user-friendly molecular markers, such as Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP). This review outlines the role of different floral traits and the benefits of using modern biotechnological approaches to improve hybrid rice production. It focuses on how floral traits are interrelated and their possible contribution to hybrid rice production to satisfy future rice demand. We discuss the significance of different floral traits, techniques, and breeding approaches in hybrid rice production. We provide a historical perspective of hybrid rice production and its current status and outline the challenges and opportunities in this field.

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“…Rice is the source of feeding to approximately 50 percent of the global population, making it one of the most significant food globally [ 26 ]. Different approaches were used to increase the yield, resistance, and genetic diversity of cultivated rice, such as hybrid rice, through the development of chromosomal segment substitution lines by crossing cultivated rice with wild rice [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Chromosome-segment substitution lines (CSSLs), make it possible to analyze target quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with greater accuracy.…”

Heterosis for Interactions between Insect Herbivores and 3-Line Hybrid Rice under Low and High Soil Nitrogen Conditions

“…Hybrid rice is grown extensively in some parts of South and Southeast Asia [ 1 , 2 ]. In China, the total area planted with hybrid rice rapidly increased after its initial introduction in the late 1970s, with some estimates that 50% (15 million hectares) of Chinese rice production currently relies on hybrid varieties [ 2 , 3 ]. More recently, hybrid rice production has spread to India, Bangladesh and Vietnam, where the rice acreage under hybrids increased dramatically in the early 2000s [ 1 , 4 ].…”

“…More recently, hybrid rice production has spread to India, Bangladesh and Vietnam, where the rice acreage under hybrids increased dramatically in the early 2000s [ 1 , 4 ]. Several Asian countries (e.g., India, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines) currently promote hybrid rice breeding as one of several strategies to increase national food production [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]. Hybrid varieties are produced by crossing male-sterile rice plants with fertility restorers (the pollen donors) [ 5 , 6 ].…”

“…The resulting hybrids produce both fertile and infertile grains that are unsuitable for seed harvesting, thereby promoting the commercialization of hybrid varieties. Hybrid varieties have generally higher (up to 15%) yields than inbred rice varieties, and seed quality is generally better, thereby avoiding seed-borne diseases and reducing seed contamination with weeds [ 3 , 7 , 8 ]. However, hybrids—particularly early-generation hybrids—have often been associated with high damage from insect herbivores and diseases [ 1 , 9 , 10 ].…”