China has officially released its first homegrown 20K solid-phase gene chip for rapeseed (Brassica napus).
The chip is named ‘Zhongxin Oil No. 1’. It was developed by the Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences with support from Huazhong Agricultural University and Suzhou Lasuo Biochip Technology Co.
The launch marks a major step for China’s agricultural biotechnology sector.
Researchers say the new chip ends nearly two decades of dependence on foreign solid-phase gene chip technology. For years, a small number of US companies controlled the key manufacturing process behind these chips. Chinese scientists faced strict technical restrictions while trying to develop similar systems domestically.
Rapeseed is one of China’s most important oil crops and is widely used to produce cooking oil and animal feed. Traditional breeding methods often depend on long field trials and seasonal growing conditions. Scientists say the new gene chip allows breeders to identify desirable traits faster and more accurately.
How the 20K Rapeseed Gene Chip Works
The ‘Zhongxin Oil No. 1’ chip contains more than 17,000 genome-wide background markers and over 1,500 functional gene loci.
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These markers help researchers detect useful genetic traits linked to crop quality, disease resistance, and yield. The chip works like a large genetic database, quickly analyzing plant samples.
Researchers explained that breeding new crop varieties usually takes up to 10 years using conventional methods. With the new chip, the process can reportedly be shortened to about three years. A single test costs around 25 yuan, or roughly a few US dollars, and results are available within 72 hours.
The technology uses solid-phase spotting, which deposits genetic material onto tiny surfaces for large-scale testing. This process is widely used in modern biotechnology because it can analyze thousands of genetic signals simultaneously. Until now, the manufacturing method has remained difficult for Chinese researchers to replicate.
According to reports, the development process lasted more than six years and involved repeated failures. The research team produced over 1,600 experimental notebooks and more than 2,700 reports during testing. Scientists also collected over 10 million scanning images while working to improve the chip design.
The project faced an extremely high failure rate during its early stages. Researchers said nearly 80 billion microbeads were discarded during experiments. The failure rate reportedly reached 99.9 percent before the team achieved stable results.
The turning point came in 2024 through cooperation between research institutes and universities in China. Teams from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Nanjing University joined the effort to improve the spotting process. Many of the researchers involved were young scientists born in the 1990s.
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In 2025, experts from the National Rapeseed Improvement Center at Huazhong Agricultural University contributed large amounts of key gene data.
Later, Hua Wei, chief scientist at the Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, significantly expanded the gene library. The number of identified loci increased from several thousand to 20,000.
Scientists described the expanded database as a gene dictionary for rapeseed research. It covers the most common breeding and research needs linked to the crop. The information helps breeders quickly identify valuable plant traits during development.
Researchers also worked closely with companies to turn laboratory research into practical industrial products. The chip officially entered the market in October 2025, following extensive testing and validation. Experts say this cooperation among universities, institutes, and companies helped accelerate commercialization.
Why Smart Breeding Matters for Global Agriculture
Precision breeding has become important as countries seek stronger food security and higher agricultural productivity. Gene chips allow scientists to select plants with useful characteristics much faster than traditional breeding methods. This reduces time, labor, and development costs for new crop varieties.
China has been investing heavily in seed technology and agricultural self-reliance in recent years. Domestic development of gene chips reduces reliance on imported biotechnology products. It also strengthens China’s ability to support its own farming sector with advanced tools.
The research team has already started work on a second-generation version of the chip. Version 2.0 is expected to include around 60,000 gene loci for deeper genetic analysis. Scientists believe the upgraded system will further improve breeding precision.
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Researchers also plan to expand similar chip technology into livestock and other major crops. Current projects reportedly include pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, wheat, corn, soybeans, and rice. This wider product network could support faster genetic research across China’s agriculture industry.
The launch of ‘Zhongxin Oil No. 1’ highlights the growing role of biotechnology in modern farming. Faster breeding systems can help farmers respond to climate challenges, rising food demand, and changing agricultural conditions.
