中国科学家破解水稻“防火墙基因”

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.

中国研究人员已发现一种关键基因，其能在保证稻米品质和产量的同时增强水稻的耐热性，有望应对日益严峻的极端高温对水稻生产的影响。

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.

这一发现由中国中部湖北省武汉市华中农业大学的一个研究团队取得，并于4月30日发表在国际学术期刊《细胞》的官网上。

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.

该研究论文通讯作者李一博表示，在高温环境下，名为QT12的基因会与蛋白质复合体NF-Y相互作用，在稻谷粒内部构建起像“防火墙”一样的保护层，抵御极端高温，同时还能稳定淀粉和蛋白质的合成。

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，在去年的高温环境下，团队在长江流域进行了大规模田间试验。研究结果表明，将QT12基因导入到杂交稻品种“华占”中，该水稻在武汉、杭州和长沙的小区产量分别增加了49.1%、77.9%和31.2%，且稻米品质也得到了改善。

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，长江流域的水稻年产量约占中国水稻总产量的三分之二，但近年来的极端高温给水稻种植带来了严峻挑战。

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.

他认为，这一发现为水稻在高温环境下实现优质高产提供了全新的分子机制和育种策略。他还补充道，研究团队目前已与国内企业合作，将加快相关的育种应用实践。