Synthetic asexual reproduction system in hybrid rice shows promise for seed production

Apomixis is a form of asexual reproduction that allows hybrid rice to propagate by seeds. Recently, a collaborative research team led by Professor Li Jiayang from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Science established a new synthetic apomixis system using the rice endogenous gene OsWUS, which enables normal seed-setting rates.