Microcosmic and macroscopic researches on high-water use efficiency agriculture

Since 2001, we aimed at the research of water-saving agriculture and water, food and ecological security in the North China Plain. Thus we conducted high-water use efficiency agriculture through interdisciplinary micro-and macro-research. In microscopic research which was successively carried out for wheat water-saving cultivar and breeding, wheat physiological and genetic control for water use efficiency, related gene cloning and function and transgenic technology were investigated. Also marker-assisted selection breeding research, recent technologies such as molecular design breeding and gene editing for water using efficiency were also conducted. Seven wheat varieties were selected, two of which were examined at the national level. Representative works like "wheat genetics", which was the foundation for physiological genetic breeding of drought and water-saving in crops won two second prizes of the National Science and Technology Progress Award. With respect to macro research, we carried out researches on high-water efficiency agriculture in dry land, water resources and food security, wheat adaption to climate change, green agriculture to increase grain yield and efficiency. We put forward the construction of Huanghuai South Second Granary and more than thirty important consulting reports adopted by the national and local governments and leaders. The Second Granary engineering science and technology innovation became the four innovation projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China in 2017, and the major breakthrough project of Chinese Academy of Sciences in the 13^th Five-Year Science and Technology Plan. Representative works included research and development of high-water agriculture of dry-land in China; water resources, food security and modern agriculture development in China; crop response to climate change, efficient utilization of water resources and food security and coordinated of green agriculture development in China; development strategy and practice of the Second Granary in China. In the micro and macro aspects, our researches promoted detailed development of high-water efficient agriculture in China, and became a special subject area in Chinese Academy of Sciences for water-saving agriculture in North China.