A top agricultural expert from the Academy of Sciences held a dried wild rice plant in his hands and asked in a trembling voice: "Where did you find this?"
Wearing white gloves, he carefully picked up the large folding tabletop to prevent even a single seed from falling off. On the tabletop covered with white cloth, there were five different types of rice plants side by side. All of them were new.
Wild rice plants discovered.
For hybrid rice research, wild rice plants are invaluable.
The earth has experienced many mass extinctions of species in its long life. The most recent one occurred after the emergence of humans. After humans entered the era of historical records, with the progress and development of humans, the extinction of animals and plants accelerated.
Today, it is becoming more and more difficult to discover new wild rice. This is also the reason why the future development path of hybrid rice is getting narrower. Many scientists have to shift their focus to genetic modification.
However, the investment in genetic modification is too large, requires higher knowledge barriers, takes longer, and requires extremely expensive experimental equipment. Moreover, the safety of gene grafting between different species is also very risky.
"One of our agricultural researchers found this overseas." Sun Xing introduced carefully.
Although she has seen the world and met many important people, she still has great respect for these old experts who are devoted to agriculture and work hard in the fields all year round.
"No, I looked at the characteristics of this wild rice plant. Although I have never found it before, I judge based on experience that it should grow in the Jianghuai area."
Sun Xing was dumbfounded and muttered: "We only have one researcher here, and he is stationed overseas. He mailed it from the Horn of Africa. We thought it was African rice."
"We haven't heard of wild rice in Africa. Wild rice is mainly distributed in southern my country, India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the northern coastal areas of Australia. Then this plant is more worthy of study. What is its name and how old is it? It’s the one who graduated from university. Ask him if he is willing to be my graduate student.” Professor Sun asked.
As soon as he finished speaking, there were envious voices all around. Mr. Sun is currently the top rice expert in the country. The industry generally believes that he will be an academician soon. Being able to be his disciple is a good thing that many people can't ask for.
But there is no point in envy. Who can let people find so many wild rice plants? Now there are fewer and fewer undiscovered wild rice plants. Those that have been discovered have been collected into the national reserve base. Carefully serve and breed
Used for transgenic, hybridization and other experiments.
Seeds are the "chips" of agriculture, and germplasm resources are the genetic resources of seeds. Wild rice is the ancestral species of rice and an important gene bank for rice breeding.
In order to effectively protect wild rice, an important crop germplasm resource, my country has successively established bases such as the National Germplasm Guangzhou Wild Rice Nursery, the National Germplasm Guangxi Wild Rice Resource Nursery, and the Yunnan National Plateau Wild Rice Resource Nursery.
The shortage of wild rice has even forced some agricultural scientists to conduct cross-species hybridization experiments. In Guangdong, they even hybridized rice and bamboo, and they succeeded. The yield of bamboo rice per mu is 1,185 kilograms, which is far higher than that of ordinary rice, which is more than 900 kilograms.
The yield and protein are as high as 13, and it is resistant to decay and can be stored for a long time. It tastes good and has a refreshing fragrance. It can currently be sold on the market for 20 yuan per pound.
These rices are still in the initial stage of promotion. Because of their good taste and good elasticity, they are basically bought by Xiaozhi to make sushi. They claim that this is the most suitable rice for making sushi.
As long as there are new wild rice resources, hybridization can continue to develop.
"I don't know him either. He's a young man. His name seems to be Tian Zili. The boss said that he married a Mongolian girl and went abroad for his honeymoon." Sun Xing explained with some anxiety.
She really didn't know Tian Zili's situation, and she didn't know where to find him.
"Mr. Sun, I don't have his contact information. I'll tell the boss about your opinions and let the boss inform him."
Mr. Sun said with a smile: "It's great to be young. The world is so big and I can go and see everywhere. I can't walk with my old bones."
This is Yang Fan's largest base in the country in the neighboring province. Now it has been built very well. In the huge factory area, a golf course, a Soviet-style garden, and a horse farm have been built, and a license has been applied for to open a wildlife park. If not
Due to the epidemic in recent years, it is even possible to engage in tourism.
In the experimental fields here, a variety of crop seeds dating back to 1629 have been planted, with different varieties on every acre. From staple foods to vegetables to wild plants and flowers, these experts from the Academy of Sciences were dazzled.
They came today to inspect because the sorghum project they cooperated with is about to be harvested.
This was their first time to visit the inside of the factory. Before, they had been in the experimental fields outside.
Monkey always received these top agricultural experts from China with a glowing face. Yang Fan gave instructions in advance and let them visit casually.
After the business was done, Mr. Hou invited the experts to play golf, fish, and ride horses, so that these experts who had been working hard in the fields all year round could happily relax.
The dinner was arranged in the VIP building in the factory. This is a ten-story hotel located in the middle of the factory wildlife park, a 100-acre Soviet-style garden, a racecourse, and an 18-hole golf course.
The economy of this county in the neighboring province is half-dead. Since Yang Fan came here, it has become a large taxpayer, and naturally it has received a lot of policy favors. In particular, industrial land and agricultural land have expanded a lot in recent years.
Tonight, the experts all stayed here. During the banquet, guests and hosts enjoyed themselves.
Mr. Chen held up the goblet and said, "Mr. Hou, the wine you grow from your own grapes is really good, and those black pigs are rare breeds. This pork is so delicious."
The monkey smiled and said: "Mr. Chen, those black pigs of ours are specially supplied for the state banquet. You can't see them on the market at all. Currently, the number of breeders is limited, and only more than a thousand pigs are sold a year. Several large units in the country
There’s not enough supply.”
Mr. Sun said: "Your Mr. Yang, I have heard, started his business by dealing in antiques. I have a few old friends in Yanda. They said that their treasure of the school, the ancient books of the Western Zhou Dynasty, were donated by Mr. Yang. Now he is changing his career.
Engaging in agriculture will make greater contributions to society, and we old men must give him a thumbs up."
Sun Xing said: "Mr. Yang often said that our food security cannot be in the hands of the four major grain merchants ABCD. We Chinese people have to make our own decisions on the dining table."
"I heard that you, Mr. Yang, are born after 2000. It is really not easy for you to achieve such a big career at such a young age. The younger generation should not be arrogant or impatient, and can calm down. It takes a long time to do something, but the results are slow and require a huge amount of money."
The capital investment is related to the national economy and people's livelihood projects. It is really gratifying."
"The younger generation is so patriotic and willing to assume social responsibilities, so we old men can feel relieved."