China makes major progress in smart crop breeding

China’s first intelligent field plant phenotype precision identification platform went into operation recently in Sanya City, south China’s Hainan Province, which is a milestone in the country’s development of intelligent breeding.

The phenotype of a plant is a term used to describe observable characteristics of the plant, such as its appearance, and some inherent physiological characteristics, such as resistance to drought and diseases.

In an experimental field of the National Nanfan Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, a large piece of equipment is moving across the field. The equipment, called the field plant phenotype precision identification platform, can move according to the preset track and can be remotely controlled. While moving, the equipment can scan the plants with its six sensors, just like a CT machine for plants.

"The ultimate goal is to achieve high-throughput, large-scale, efficient and precise collection of germplasm resources, which can be four to five times higher than the efficiency of the traditional manual collection," said Jin Xiuliang, a researcher at the institute.

Although the equipment looks simple from the outside, it contains six high-precision image acquisition devices such as multi-spectral, thermal infrared, and chlorophyll fluorescence devices. Data can be collected at fixed times and points according to experimental needs, and the collection of a germplasm material can be completed within 30 seconds.

After the data collected through this platform is transmitted to the data analysis center, researchers can more quickly and accurately screen out germplasm resources with excellent traits, laying the foundation for subsequent crop breeding.

"The plant phenotype identification facility at the National Nanfan Research Institute is a milestone in the field of crop science in China. It can greatly enhance the independent innovation capabilities of germplasm innovation, gene mining, and variety breeding, and enhance the international competitiveness of China's seed industry," said Li Huihui, vice president of the institute.  

China makes major progress in smart crop breeding

Russia said on Thursday that its forces had taken control of one more settlement in eastern Ukraine and hit various Ukrainian targets, while Ukraine reported harsh situations on the frontline over the past 24 hours.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a daily battle report that its troops hit various Ukrainian targets, including drone warehouse, ammunition depots and the energy infrastructure of military enterprises on the day, as its air defense system shut down several Ukrainian rockets and drones.

Meanwhile, the Russian army also repelled several attacks by the Ukrainian army in Kursk region in western Russia, hitting targets including armored vehicles and multiple rocket launchers, according to the report.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that as of Thursday afternoon, Ukrainian forces had engaged in over 100 battles with the Russian army in multiple directions.

The situations on the frontline remained harsh, with the most intense fighting especially in the directions of Pokrovsk and Kurahovo in eastern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian report, adding that Ukrainian forces are still taking all necessary measures to prevent the Russian army from breaking through.

Russia claims hitting Ukrainian ammunition depot, Ukraine reports harsh situations on frontline