Chinese scientists find a way to boost rice yields while shortening growth cycle

中国科学家找到兼顾水稻增产与缩短生育周期的技术路径

Rice Photo: VCGChina's early rice production remained broadly stable in 2026 despite adverse weather, while Chinese scientists have identified a rare gene variant that could help rice mature earlier without sacrificing yield.

水稻（视觉中国）尽管遭遇不利天气，2026年我国早稻总体产量保持基本稳定，于此同时，我国科学家发现一种罕见的基因变异，可以让水稻提早成熟，且不会造成产量损失。。

A study published online in the journal Science on Friday showed the long-standing challenge in rice breeding - the difficulty of combining early maturity with high yields - could be addressed.

周五,《科学》在线刊上的一项研究表明，水稻育种中长期存在的挑战——难以实现早熟与高产协同——有望得到攻克。

A research team led by Zhang Jian at the China National Rice Research Institute identified and cloned a rare allele, namely TGW1aJZ, that can simultaneously shorten rice's growth duration and increase grain yield. The study found that the gene encodes a florigen-like protein that not only promotes flowering but also responds to nitrogen signals and enhances nitrogen uptake and use.

中国水稻研究所张健领衔的研究团队鉴定并克隆了一种罕见的等位基因，即TGW1aJZ，该基因可以同时缩短水稻生育期并提高籽粒产量。研究证实，该基因编码一种类成花素蛋白，不仅能促进开花，还能响应氮信号，增强氮的吸收和利用。

The finding is particularly relevant to southern China, where farmers often use multiple-cropping systems involving early rice, late rice and oilseed crops.

这一研究成果对中国南方意义重大，南方农户普遍采用包括早稻、晚稻与油籽作物的多熟种植制度。

In parts of southern China, farmers can grow two rice crops in the same year, leaving only a short window to harvest one crop and plant the next. Cutting several days from the rice growth cycle could therefore help farmers fit more crops into the same growing season.

我国南方的部分地区实行水稻种植，前一季水稻收获后，留给下一季播种的时间十分紧张。若水稻生育周期能够缩短数日，就可以帮助农户在同一个种植季内更好地衔接多茬作物生产。

The researchers said the gene could be used in different types of rice, including conventional early-season varieties and hybrid varieties planted later in the year, potentially providing a genetic resource for developing varieties that mature earlier while maintaining or increasing yields.

研究人员表示，该基因可用于不同类型的水稻，包括早稻和今年晚些时候种植的杂交品种，有可能为开发成熟更早的品种提供遗传资源，同时保持或提高产量。

"We identified the key gene for early maturity and high yield, and developed a series of improved varieties that mature three to eight days earlier while delivering 4 to 11 percent higher yields," Zhang said.

张健表示：“我们确定了早熟和高产的关键基因，育出一系列改良品种。这些品种成熟期可提前 3‑8 天，产量提升 4%‑11%。”

China produced 56.58 billion jin (28.29 million tons) of early rice this year, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The output remained above 28 million tons for the sixth consecutive year, although it declined 0.8 percent from 2025.

国家统计局发布数据显示，2026 年全国早稻总产量565.8亿斤（折合2829万吨）。虽然产量较2025年小幅下降 0.8%，但已连续六年维持在2800万吨以上。

The country's early rice planting area increased slightly to 71.164 million mu, or about 4.74 million hectares, up 22,000 mu from a year earlier. Average yield stood at 397.6 kilograms per mu, down 0.8 percent year on year.

全国早稻播种面积小幅增至7116.4万亩约折合 474万公顷，同比增加2.2万亩；平均亩产397.6公斤，同比下降0.8%。

Wei Fenghua, director of the NBS ­Rural Department, attributed the decline in yield partly to unfavorable weather during key stages of production. Persistent heavy rainfall in parts of southern China during the heading and flowering period affected pollination and grain setting, while several typhoons during the harvesting period caused waterlogging and lodging in some low-lying fields, affecting grain filling and harvesting.

国家统计局农村司司长魏凤华分析，单产下滑部分源于水稻关键生育期的恶劣天气：南方部分地区抽穗扬花期持续强降雨，干扰水稻授粉与结实；收获期又接连遭遇台风，部分低洼农田出现渍涝、植株倒伏，对籽粒灌浆与收割造成不利影响

"The government has continued to support rice growers through policies including subsidies for farmland fertility protection and crop rotation, as well as measures to stabilize expectations for farmers planting early indica rice," Wei was quoted as saying by Beijing-based Science and Technology Daily.

北京《科技日报》报道，魏凤华表示：“国家持续出台政策扶持稻农，落实耕地地力保护补贴、轮作补贴等举措，同时多措并举稳定早籼稻种植户的生产预期。”