Rice hybridization refers to the artificial pollination of two different rice varieties to produce a new variety. Hybridization can improve the yield, disease resistance and quality of rice, and is one of the important means of modern rice breeding. Here are the steps for rice hybridization:
Selection of parents: Two rice varieties with different superior traits were selected as parents. In general, one parent is male sterile and the other is fertile. Male sterility of parents can be obtained by methods such as chemical induction or genetic mutation.
Prepare the pollen: Before the crossbreeding, the pollen of the male sterile parent needs to be prepared. Pollen can be harvested by hand or by using a pollen collector. Pollen is collected in a dry container and kept at low temperatures to preserve its viability.
Pollination: Choose a suitable time for pollination. In general, rice blooms in the morning or evening, when pollen vigor is high. Cut the flower spikes of the male sterile parent, then align them with the flower spikes of the fertile parents, and gently rub the flower spikes so that the pollen is evenly transferred to the stamens of the fertile parents. This process is repeated until all fertile parents have been pollinated.
Isolation: After pollination, the hybrid plants need to be isolated from other plants to prevent the hybrid offspring from mating with other varieties from the outside world. Isolation can be done using a fence or by transplanting the hybrid plants into separate plots.
Observation and documentation: For a period of time after crossing, the growth and trait performance of the hybrid offspring need to be closely observed. Record the traits of each hybrid offspring, including plant height, leaf color, flowering period, disease resistance, etc. These records are very important for subsequent selection work.
Breeding: According to the results of observation and recording, hybrid offspring with excellent traits are selected for breeding. Some of these plants can be selected for self-inbreeding to further purify and stabilize their traits. At the same time, other hybrid offspring with excellent traits can also be combined to produce more new varieties.
Identification and promotion: After many breeding and experiments, new varieties with excellent traits are selected, which need to be identified and promoted. Professional agricultural research institutions or agricultural universities can be invited to conduct identification to ensure the quality and adaptability of new varieties. Once the new variety has been identified, it can be planted on a large scale.
It is important to note that rice hybridization is a complex job that requires a certain amount of expertise and experience. In the operation of rice hybridization, it is necessary to pay attention to protecting the vitality of pollen, choosing the appropriate time and method for pollination, and observing and recording the performance of hybrid offspring in time. Only after many experiments and breeding can new varieties with excellent traits be selected to provide better germplasm resources for rice production.