Opposite to the decreasing soybean production, the hybridization breeding of soybean is rising in China. The cross breeding system of soybean has been established in some areas. It is estimated that the breakthrough in soybean yield and quality would greatly improve the competitiveness of domestic non-transgenic soybeans, according to CCM's November Issue of Seed China News.
Anhui Province is a major soybean-planting province in China, with an annual planting area of over 666,666.67 ha. (10 million mu). The province's soybean hybridization breeding, especially for high-protein soybeans, has led the country, mainly relying on the cooperation efforts of research institutes. By three-line breeding methods, some summer soybeans with higher yield, such as "Zayoudou 1", have been successfully cultivated and released in the province and surrounding areas.
It was reported in early Nov. 2011 that a highly efficient soybean breeding system was established in Jilin Province, a key soybean planting region located in Northeast China. After a male sterile line with high outcrossing rate was cultivated, the hybrid seed yield of soybean has been significantly increased. The seed breeding system combining the environment, insects and crop has been further improved. Then the industrialization of soybean seed breeding would be accelerated substantially.
Compared with other main crops like rice, corn and rapeseed, soybean is a most difficult crop to realize distant crossing. It has taken Chinese scientists many years to cultivate soybean male-sterile line and breeding hybrid varieties. The world's first hybrid soybean was born in China in Jan. 2003.
Although China owns the advantages in planting non-transgenic soybean in large areas, the soybean industry has not shown powerful competitiveness compared with the GM soybean industry. Owing to the high cost and low efficiency in growing soybeans, domestic farmers intends to plant other high efficiency or yield crops, such as hybrid rice and corn. Besides, the shrinking demand for non-transgenic soybean in processing industry also affected domestic soybean planting.
It's believed that the new cross-breeding and cultivation technology should be essential to revitalize China's soybean industry. The improvement in soybean seed breeding should cut farmers' purchase cost of hybrid soybean seeds. The planting efficiency of soybean would be greatly improved, with the upgrading of yield and quality.
As for developing excellent hybrid soybean, the cooperation between seed companies and research institutes should be encouraged. Companies should play a key role in promoting the commercialization of soybean breeding. According to Gai Junyi, a famous soybean expert, Shandong Shengfeng Seeds and Technology Co., Ltd. has collaborated with Nanjing Agricultural University to establish a modern soybean-breeding system.
Many industrial insiders also advocate to enhance domestic protein processing business, in order to expand the consumption of non-transgenic soybeans. Actually, non-transgenic soybeans are thought to be the material most appropriate for protein processing. It appears that the demand for non-transgenic soybeans continues to increase globally, with the development of protein processing industry.
It is noteworthy that some domestic oil companies still insist on extract oil mainly with non-tansgenic soybeans. "Only by building our non-GM brand can we compete with international cereals and oils giants," said Vice President of a cereals and oils industrial group in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China.
Source: Seed China News 1111
http://www.cnchemicals.com/Newsletter/NewsletterDetail_28.html
Content of Seed China News 1111:
Anhuigovernment to support leading seed enterprises
Two-line hybrid wheat to realize industrialization in China
Chinaattaches importance to crop space breeding
Rice 3,000 Genomes Project launched in Shenzhen
Winall Hi-tech introduces conventional rice variety
Hunan Jinjian transferred to Shenzhen Jinsheng
Shandong Denghai sets a joint venture
Golden Rice sets up research institute
Chinasoybean breeding on the rise
Bayer's new seed treatment application center launched in China
Seed China News, a monthly publication issued by CCM International on 30th of every month, offers timely update and close follow-up of China’s seed industry dynamics, analyzes market data and finds out factors influencing market development
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