Towards molecular breeding and improvement of rice in China

China is the largest producer and consumer of rice in the world and a pioneer in applying hybrid rice technology. Although hybrid rice has contributed greatly to Chinese agriculture in the past decades, its potential to improve grain quality further is being questioned. However, to meet the challenges posed by severe crop damage by pests and diseases, the extensive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and a shortage of water and energy, more elite rice cultivars are needed. In recent years, China has seen continued improvements in rice genetics, powered by functional genomics as a way forward to safeguard its rice production. Here, we briefly review the current status of rice breeding in China through strategies integrating hybrid rice technology, molecular marker-assisted breeding, functional genomics and genetically modified rice.