(Yicai Global) Sept. 3 -- China's mainland stock markets closed lower in the afternoon, weighted by agriculture and food sector shares, above all seed breeders.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.58 percent lower at 3,384.98. The Shenzhen Component Index slipped 0.83 percent to 13,772.37. The ChiNext Price Index, which tracks growth enterprises in Shenzhen, dipped 0.9 percent to 2,746.95.

Winall Hi-Tech Seed [SHE:300087], an Anhui-based breeder, closed 10.17 percent down atCNY19.35 (USD2.79). Its second-largest shareholder Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group has shed 5 percent of its stake in the company during the last six months, according to a statement it issued yesterday.

Other big losers in the sector included Shandong Denghai Seeds [SHE:002041], down 8.64 percent to CNY18.5, and Hainan Shennong Technology [SHE:300189], which fell 7.99 percent to CNY6.68.

Editor: Ben Armour