China
October 29, 2010

Through nearly 20 years of devoted research, Wang Yuwen, associate research fellow of the Millet Research Institute of Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, succeeded in breading China’s first mid-late maturing hybrid millet variety “Changza No.2”. Recently, the over 50 mu (about three ha) of ripe “Changza No.2” millet in the demonstration site of Dongpo Village situated in the hilly areas of Xiangyuan County, Shanxi Province, has begun to be harvested. Millet grower Ma Xiaoping said proudly that he experimented with six mu (about 0.4 ha) of this variety last year and produced nearly 500 kg per mu (about 0.067 ha); this year, the yield would be at least 100 kg more than that of conventional varieties in spite of the adverse weather conditions of drought and excessive rain.

The newly-bred “Changza No.2” is characterized by high yield, good quality, uniform and vigorously growing plants and strong resistance to disease, drought and lodging, displaying its outstanding heterosis. Specifically, its yield is over 35% higher than that of conventional control varieties, increasing by 100-150 kg per mu. In 2009, “Changza No.2” millet was awarded the title of Grade Two Quality Millet in the 8th National Competition for Quality Edible Millet. Today, this variety has been listed among national projects on application of scientific and technological results, and will be widely promoted in Shanxi, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning and other mid-late maturing millet producing areas.

The successful breeding of “Changza No.2” hybrid millet variety, which has filled in the gap in this field in China and made a breakthrough in the improvement of millet varieties, will surely have a far-reaching influence on millet breeding and give a great impetus to rapid growth of millet production.

Website: http://www.agri.gov.cn

Published: October 29, 2010