In a groundbreaking breakthrough, Chinese scientists have identified a vital gene that enables staple crops to thrive on vast areas of infertile lands, shredding lights on efforts to curb food crisis under climate change. The gene, known as AT1, has been found to significantly boost the yields of sorghum, rice, wheat, corn, and millet grown even on saline-alkaline land.

This discovery holds great promise for utilizing China's vast areas of sodic land resources, which cover around 100 million hectares, and contributing to global food security in the face of climate change. The research team collaborated with seven other institutions to conduct a whole-genome big data association analysis of sorghum genetic resources. This analysis revealed the AT1 gene and its molecular mechanism, which would enable crop alkaline tolerance.

According to latest research findings, with the AT1 gene, sorghum grain yields increased by 20.1% and millet yields by 19.5% in the saline-alkaline lands of Pingluo, Ningxia Hui autonomous region. In Da'an, Jilin province, rice yields increased by 22.4-27.8%. The AT1 gene also significantly improved the survival rate of corn on saline-alkaline land. Further research demonstrated that the regulation mechanism in rice, wheat, corn, and millet is highly similar, allowing the team to improve alkaline tolerance in these crops through breeding. Field experiments were then conducted to test the modified crops, with remarkable results.