Origin and spread of rice cultivation within the Yangtze River Valley, southern China

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide a description of the origin and spread of rice cultivation within the Yangtze River Valley. The region of eastern China, particularly the Yangtze River is thought to be the point of origin for rice cultivation and domestication, among many other theories. The data came from assemblages from various sites in Southeastern and central China. The oldest dates are associated with rice husks and grains being used as pottery temper, dated to 9500 ? 500 years B.P. According to one theory Oryza rufipogon evolved into O. sativa japonica and O. sativa indica. However research on the genetics from O. sativa indica indicated that this subspecies could be the result of hybridization between wild rice and O. s. japonica.