Beijing: China has made a significant breakthrough in agricultural biotechnology with the development of a rice gene that combines earlier maturity with higher yield. The discovery was made by a research team led by Zhang Jian at the China National Rice Research Institute.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the researchers identified and cloned a rare variant of the TGW1a gene, known as TGW1aJZ, which has the potential to revolutionize rice farming. This gene shortens the rice growth cycle while boosting grain yield. It encodes a florigen-like protein that promotes flowering and responds to nitrogen signals, enhancing both the uptake and utilization of nitrogen by rice plants.
The implications of this discovery are particularly significant for southern China, where farmers employ multiple-cropping systems. In these areas, the ability to grow two rice crops in a single year leaves a narrow window between harvesting one crop and planting the next. By shortening the growth cycle by several days, this new gene could help optimize land use and enable farmers to fit additional crops into the growing season.
The research team has successfully developed improved rice varieties using the TGW1aJZ gene. These varieties mature three to eight days earlier and yield 4-11 percent more grain. The genetic advancement can be applied to various rice types, from traditional early-season varieties to later-planted hybrids.
In 2026, China harvested 56.58 billion jin (28.29 million tonnes) of early rice, maintaining production above 28 million tonnes for the sixth consecutive year. The area planted with early rice increased to 71.164 million mu (approximately 4.74 million hectares), an addition of 22,000 mu (around 1,466 hectares) compared to 2025.
The development of these high-yield, early-maturing rice varieties is expected to enhance the efficiency of China’s rice production, particularly in regions practicing multiple-cropping systems. This research not only supports current agricultural practices but also provides a genetic resource for future advances in rice breeding and agricultural productivity.