Abstract:Genetic improvement is among one of the most important driving force in improving crop production,but the potential of genetic contribution to crop improvement is seriously limited by conventional plant breeding practices.Studies over recent years have shown that breeding with molecular crop design,which utilizes the knowledge and tools from contemporary functional genomics research,is the effective approach to overcome the bottlenecks of conventional breeding practices.Based on the achievements in rice genome and its functional genomics in China in conjunction with up-to-date progresses in these areas in the world,Chinese Academy of Sciences is planning to launch a project on molecular design and research in breeds of wheat and rice.This project aims to establish the necessary resources and platforms for molecular design of crops and,in particular,to develop new rice and wheat varieties possessing high-yield potential,super grain quality,high efficiency and durable resistance to plant disease and insect pests,and contravaviance.