Chinese scientists have identified a rare gene variant that could help rice mature earlier while maintaining or increasing yields.

A research team led by Zhang Jian at the China National Rice Research Institute made the discovery, as reported by TV BRICS.

The researchers identified and cloned a rare variant of the TGW1a gene known as TGW1aJZ, which can shorten rice’s growth cycle while increasing grain yield.

According to the study, the gene encodes a florigen-like protein that promotes flowering, responds to nitrogen signals, and improves nitrogen uptake and utilisation in rice plants.

The finding could be particularly useful in southern China, where farmers use multiple-cropping systems.

In some areas, farmers can grow two rice crops in a single year, leaving only a short period between harvesting one crop and planting the next.

Shortening the growth cycle by several days could help optimise land use and allow farmers to fit additional crops into the growing season.

The researchers have developed a series of improved rice varieties using the identified gene.

They mature three to eight days earlier and produce four to 11 per cent higher yields.

The genetic resource could be applied to different rice types, including conventional early-season varieties and later-planted hybrids.

Meanwhile, China harvested 56.58 billion jin (28.29 million tonnes) of early rice in 2026, according to the source.

Production remained above 28 million tonnes for the sixth consecutive year.

The area planted with early rice reached 71.164 million mu (about 4.74 million hectares), up 22,000 mu (around 1466 hectares) from 2025.

The development of high-yield, early-maturing varieties is expected to support the efficiency of China’s rice production, particularly in regions with multiple-cropping systems.

The research also provides a genetic resource for further advances in rice breeding and agricultural productivity.

(TV BRICS/NAN)