China's central-south province of Hunan, a major rice production base, has set up a wild rice species protection reserve in its Chaling county, according to the provincial agriculture department.  

The province is also planning to open a similar zone for wild soybean species, to protect the genes of wild plant species, the department said.

Hunan boasts rich diversity of wild plants for farming, and is also one of the centers for the origin of a number of crops in the country, like rice and citrus.

The preservation of wild species will provide hereditary sources, or genes, for the improvement of crops' quality.

The province planned to make a thorough search of it resources of wild crop species and establish state-level protection zones correspondingly, according to the provincial authority.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2003)