Chinese researchers have identified a gene in rice that could enhance both quality and productivity of rice at the same time, Xinhua reported.

While studying Basmati rice from Pakistan, Fu Xiangdong at Chinese Academy of Sciences and his colleagues found a gene named GW8 that could influence the quality of rice.

Further study showed that the GW8 gene also exists in some types of high yield rice grown in China. However, it's a different variant of that gene, which primarily affects grain weight.

"Then we found another variant of GW8, which could enhance the quality and productivity of rice at the same time," Fu said.

(China.org.cn June 26, 2012)

据新华社报道，中国科学家找到了一种可以使水稻优质又高产的基因。

通过对产自巴基斯坦的巴斯玛蒂香米进行研究，中国科学院傅晓东及同事发现了影响水稻质量的GW8基因。

进一步研究发现，中国的一些高产水稻上存在该基因的变体，主要影响的是稻米的重量。

傅晓东说：“后来，我们又发现了GW8的另一种变体，这种变体可以使水稻质优的同时又高产。”