Evolution of Rice Cultivar Performance Across China: A Multi-Dimensional Study on Yield and Agronomic Characteristics over Three Decades
Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) is a staple food crop for over half of the world’s population, with China being the largest producer. However, the growth rate of rice yield per hectare has slowed in recent years, emphasizing the need for in-depth studies on the evolution of rice cultivar p...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| author | Song Hang Qi Wang Yuan Wang Haitao Xiang |
| author_facet | Song Hang Qi Wang Yuan Wang Haitao Xiang |
| author_sort | Song Hang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) is a staple food crop for over half of the world’s population, with China being the largest producer. However, the growth rate of rice yield per hectare has slowed in recent years, emphasizing the need for in-depth studies on the evolution of rice cultivar performance. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the yield and key agronomic traits of rice cultivars across China over three decades, utilizing data from 11,811 cultivar trials conducted between 1990 and 2023. We assessed the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of rice cultivar performance, exploring regional differences and the interplay between agronomic traits and environmental factors. Our results reveal significant variations in growth duration, plant height, grains per panicle, thousand-grain weight, effective panicle number, and seed setting rate across different regions. Temporal trends showed diverse patterns of improvement, with some regions experiencing rapid advancements (up to 1.42% annual yield increase in Jiangxi Province of Central China) and others nearing yield plateaus (0.16% in Jilin Province and 0.45% in Heilongjiang Province of Northeast China). Correlation analysis between agronomic traits and grain yield highlighted the complex relationships and potential for further genetic gains through targeted breeding. This study underscores the importance of region-specific breeding strategies to optimize rice production in the face of environmental challenges and yield ceilings. The insights gained provide a scientific basis for future rice cultivar development and regional agricultural policies aimed at enhancing sustainability and efficiency in China’s diverse rice-growing regions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f245c811fc80446db5928d3a938b4609 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-f245c811fc80446db5928d3a938b46092024-12-27T14:03:56ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-11-011412278010.3390/agronomy14122780Evolution of Rice Cultivar Performance Across China: A Multi-Dimensional Study on Yield and Agronomic Characteristics over Three DecadesSong Hang0Qi Wang1Yuan Wang2Haitao Xiang3Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Ecology and Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 211135, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 211135, ChinaRice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) is a staple food crop for over half of the world’s population, with China being the largest producer. However, the growth rate of rice yield per hectare has slowed in recent years, emphasizing the need for in-depth studies on the evolution of rice cultivar performance. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the yield and key agronomic traits of rice cultivars across China over three decades, utilizing data from 11,811 cultivar trials conducted between 1990 and 2023. We assessed the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of rice cultivar performance, exploring regional differences and the interplay between agronomic traits and environmental factors. Our results reveal significant variations in growth duration, plant height, grains per panicle, thousand-grain weight, effective panicle number, and seed setting rate across different regions. Temporal trends showed diverse patterns of improvement, with some regions experiencing rapid advancements (up to 1.42% annual yield increase in Jiangxi Province of Central China) and others nearing yield plateaus (0.16% in Jilin Province and 0.45% in Heilongjiang Province of Northeast China). Correlation analysis between agronomic traits and grain yield highlighted the complex relationships and potential for further genetic gains through targeted breeding. This study underscores the importance of region-specific breeding strategies to optimize rice production in the face of environmental challenges and yield ceilings. The insights gained provide a scientific basis for future rice cultivar development and regional agricultural policies aimed at enhancing sustainability and efficiency in China’s diverse rice-growing regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2780agronomic traitsbreeding strategiesregional variationsrice cultivarsspatiotemporal analysisyield performance |
| spellingShingle | Song Hang Qi Wang Yuan Wang Haitao Xiang Evolution of Rice Cultivar Performance Across China: A Multi-Dimensional Study on Yield and Agronomic Characteristics over Three Decades Agronomy agronomic traits breeding strategies regional variations rice cultivars spatiotemporal analysis yield performance |
| title | Evolution of Rice Cultivar Performance Across China: A Multi-Dimensional Study on Yield and Agronomic Characteristics over Three Decades |
| title_full | Evolution of Rice Cultivar Performance Across China: A Multi-Dimensional Study on Yield and Agronomic Characteristics over Three Decades |
| title_fullStr | Evolution of Rice Cultivar Performance Across China: A Multi-Dimensional Study on Yield and Agronomic Characteristics over Three Decades |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolution of Rice Cultivar Performance Across China: A Multi-Dimensional Study on Yield and Agronomic Characteristics over Three Decades |
| title_short | Evolution of Rice Cultivar Performance Across China: A Multi-Dimensional Study on Yield and Agronomic Characteristics over Three Decades |
| title_sort | evolution of rice cultivar performance across china a multi dimensional study on yield and agronomic characteristics over three decades |
| topic | agronomic traits breeding strategies regional variations rice cultivars spatiotemporal analysis yield performance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2780 |
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