Chinese researchers have identified a key gene that enhances rice's heat tolerance while maintaining grain quality and yield, which addresses growing threats to rice production under extreme heat.

中國研究人員已發(fā)現(xiàn)一種關(guān)鍵基因，其能在保證稻米品質(zhì)和產(chǎn)量的同時增強水稻的耐熱性,，有望應(yīng)對日益嚴峻的極端高溫對水稻生產(chǎn)的影響,。

The discovery, made by a team from Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, was published on the website of the international academic journal Cell on April 30.

這一發(fā)現(xiàn)由中國中部湖北省武漢市華中農(nóng)業(yè)大學(xué)的一個研究團隊取得,，并于4月30日發(fā)表在國際學(xué)術(shù)期刊《細胞》的官網(wǎng)上。

Under high temperatures, the gene, QT12, interacts with the protein complex NF-Y to protect rice grains like a firewall inside the grains, deterring extreme heat while also stabilizing starch and protein synthesis, said Li Yibo, the corresponding author.

該研究論文通訊作者李一博表示，在高溫環(huán)境下,，名為QT12的基因會與蛋白質(zhì)復(fù)合體NF-Y相互作用,，在稻谷粒內(nèi)部構(gòu)建起像“防火墻”一樣的保護層，抵御極端高溫,，同時還能穩(wěn)定淀粉和蛋白質(zhì)的合成,。

Li noted that, during last year's high temperatures, the team conducted large-scale field trials in the Yangtze River basin. The results showed that inserting QT12 into the hybrid rice breed "Huazhan" increased yields by 49.1 percent, 77.9 percent and 31.2 percent in the cities of Wuhan, Hangzhou and Changsha and improved quality.

李一博指出，在去年的高溫環(huán)境下,，團隊在長江流域進行了大規(guī)模田間試驗,。研究結(jié)果表明，將QT12基因?qū)氲诫s交稻品種“華占”中,，該水稻在武漢,、杭州和長沙的小區(qū)產(chǎn)量分別增加了49.1%、77.9%和31.2%,，且稻米品質(zhì)也得到了改善,。

Li said the Yangtze River basin produces around two-thirds of China's rice, but extreme heat in recent years has threatened rice farming.

李一博表示，長江流域的水稻年產(chǎn)量約占中國水稻總產(chǎn)量的三分之二,，但近年來的極端高溫給水稻種植帶來了嚴峻挑戰(zhàn),。

The discovery provides a novel molecular mechanism and breeding solution to achieve both high yield and quality in rice under a high-temperature environment, he said, adding that the team has partnered with domestic companies to accelerate breeding applications.

他認為，這一發(fā)現(xiàn)為水稻在高溫環(huán)境下實現(xiàn)優(yōu)質(zhì)高產(chǎn)提供了全新的分子機制和育種策略,。他還補充道,，研究團隊目前已與國內(nèi)企業(yè)合作，將加快相關(guān)的育種應(yīng)用實踐,。