The lab’s research efforts focus on the improvement of rice varieties by integrating molecular tools and induced mutation technology with conventional breeding strategies. The main targets are superior eating quality, resistance to rice blast and brown planthopper, lodging resistance, salt tolerance, drought tolerance, as well as high yields. The most recent improved varieties are Japonica rice Tainung No. 74, 76, 78, 80, 82 and 84, and Indica rice Tainung No. 22, 24 and 26. These varieties have significantly contributed to sustainable development of rice-based production systems in Taiwan. In addressing the threats posed by global food security, extreme climate and energy crunch, the lab’s research efforts will focus on: 1) rice quality improvement; 2) breeding for abiotic stress tolerance in rice; 3) selection of rice varieties for fodder purposes; 4) molecular breeding of rice varieties; and 5) breeding for biotic stress resistance in rice. It is expected to develop rice varieties with rice blast resistance, brown planthopper resistance, drought tolerance, salt tolerance, cold tolerance, and/or heat tolerance that meet consumers' preferences.
