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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #413001
Title: USDA-ARS and UAPB collaborative research project: Boosting drought stress tolerance in US rice through cutting-edge genomic approach

Author
item MITCHELL, JOHN - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff
item Rohila, Jai
item Edwards, Jeremy
item Sookaserm, Tiffany
item Jackson, Aaron
item Huggins, Trevis
item PONNIAH, SATHISH - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/23/2024
Publication Date: 3/15/2024
Citation: Mitchell, J., Rohila, J.S., Edwards, J., Sookaserm, T.B., Jackson, A.K., Huggins, T.D., Ponniah, S.K. 2024. USDA-ARS and UAPB collaborative research project: Boosting drought stress tolerance in US rice through cutting-edge genomic approach. Meeting Abstract. 65th Annual Rural Life Conference, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. March 15, 2024. p 26-27.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Water-saving techniques or deficit irrigation systems are evolving in the U.S. rice production system over the past many years, but all these innovations are being used on rice varieties that were bred for continuous season-long flood irrigation. Past research suggests that low soil moisture conditions under deficit irrigation systems result in reduced above-ground biomass of rice plants. Grain yield and quality is adversely affected by lower biomass due to the source-sink relationship within the plant. We postulated that a rice ecotype, Aus, originating from a geographic region spanning northeastern India and Bangladesh, where it is adapted to growth under harsh rainfed conditions, might possess superior alleles related to biomass stability under deficit irrigation. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a four-year field study under deficit irrigation management using the USDA-ARS Aus Rice Diversity Panel (ADP1). The ADP1 is made up of a diverse collection of 112 Aus accessions, which we assessed for biomass and yield traits. The ADP1 served as a genetic resource to identify genes and superior allelic variations that may ultimately be deployed in elite US rice varieties to enhance agronomic qualities for sustainability, resiliency to drought stress, and broader climate resiliency. The field experiments used single-row plots in a randomized complete block design. ADP1 accessions were also assessed in a controlled greenhouse setting to determine biomass at the seedling stage. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using publicly available whole-genome sequence data from 88 of the ADP1 accessions along with yield and biomass trait data. The results of this analysis included candidate genes and variations in DNA sequence that are linked to measured traits including yield and biomass. These marker-trait associations will be validated for use in marker-assisted selection to help breed rice varieties that are more resilient under deficit irrigation management.