A mutant p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) protein or a bioactive fragment thereof, wherein, as compared to the amino acid sequence of a wild-type rice p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase protein, the amino acid sequence of the mutant p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) protein has one or more of mutations selected from the group consisting of 93S, 103S, 141R, 141K, 141T, 165V, 191I, 220K, 226H, 276W, 277N, 336D, 337A, 338D, 338S, 338Y, 342D, 346C, 346D, 346H, 346S, 346Y, 370N, 377C, 386T, 390I, 392L, 403G, 410I, 418P, 419F, 419L, 419V, 420S, 420T, 430G, and 431L at one or more positions corresponding to 93, 103, 141, 165, 191, 220, 226, 276, 277, 336, 337, 338, 342, 346, 370, 377, 386, 390, 392, 403, 410, 418, 419, 420, 430 and 431 of the amino acid sequence of wild-type rice p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase protein as set forth in SEQ ID NO: