China develops self-cloning hybrid rice for replanting

Chinese scientists have developed a self-cloning hybrid rice system that preserves high yields across generations, allowing farmers to replant seeds instead of buying new ones each season. The breakthrough uses the natural HUAXU gene to achieve over 99% cloning efficiency, potentially cutting seed costs from 20-100 yuan to 2-5 yuan per half-kilogram. This could significantly boost global rice production and food security, especially in developing regions.