Xizi 3: a new rice variety with stable low-cadmium-accumulation characteristics

This study is the first to develop a method for cadmium enrichment and identification in sterile rice lines. The important low-cadmium rice resources Luohong 3A and Luohong 4A were discovered. A precise breeding system for low cadmium enrichment in rice was established, leading to the cultivation of Xizi 3, the first low-cadmium rice variety approved by the State. This achievement is significant for solving the problem of excessive cadmium in rice in southern China. In 2024, Xizi 3 was selected as a major agricultural technology by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and a key scientific and technological achievement in China’s agricultural and rural areas.