Beijing, March 22 (SANA) Chinese scientists have identified a gene that could allow rice to regrow year after year, a breakthrough that may significantly increase crop yields and reduce farming costs, according to a study reported by state media.
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences said they had uncovered a genetic mechanism that enables plants to survive winter and regenerate from their roots.
The study, cited by CGTN, found that a genetic region known as EBT1 plays a central role in extending a plant’s lifespan by suppressing aging signals and maintaining its vegetative state. This allows rice, typically grown as an annual crop, to regrow across multiple seasons.
Scientists developed a new rice strain, named G43, which showed substantially higher productivity, producing around 70 branches compared with roughly 12 in conventional rice varieties.
The team also combined the EBT1 gene with other growth-related genes, resulting in plants capable of surviving for at least two years under suitable field conditions.
Experts said the findings could support long-standing efforts to convert annual crops into perennial ones, a shift that could improve yields while lowering labor and input costs.
Researchers have for years sought to develop perennial crops to reduce the need for replanting and improve resource efficiency, particularly as climate change and rising demand put pressure on global food systems.
However, further field trials and large-scale validation will be needed before the approach can be widely adopted in agriculture.
