Genetic diversity in rice production: past contribution and the potential of utilization for sustainable rice production

摘要

Of all the staple food crops, rice accounts for the dietary energy requirements of almost half the world population. Over 90 percent of the world's rice is produced and consumed in Asia. It is the second most important crop in the world (after wheat,which has an annual cultivation area of 213 million hectares [Mha]) and is grown annually on 151.54 Mha, with an annual production of 593 million tonnes (Mt) and an average productivity of 3.91 t/ha (FAOSTAT, 2002). The four decades since 1961 have seenan increase in area, production and productivity of rice of 31.2, 174.9 and 109.7 percent, respectively. Besides Asia, rice is grown in Africa, Latin America, the United States and Australia. It is also grown to a very limited extent in the European Union. This paper limits its considerations to the major rice-growing continents, namely: Asia, Africa and Latin America.