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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #417998
Research Project: Broadening and Strengthening the Genetic Base of Rice for Adaptation to a Changing Climate, Crop Production Systems, and Markets

Location: Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center

Title: Rice germplasm characterization and enhancement for the sustainability and resilience of the US rice industry using functional genomics toolsand stress tolerance

Author
item Jia, Yulin
item Edwards, Jeremy
item Pinson, Shannon
item Eizenga, Georgia
item Huggins, Trevis
item Rohila, Jai
item Jia, Melissa
item Jackson, Aaron

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/2/2024
Publication Date: 9/5/2024
Citation: Jia, Y., Edwards, J., Pinson, S.R., Eizenga, G.C., Huggins, T.D., Rohila, J.S., Jia, M.H., Jackson, A.K. 2024. Rice germplasm characterization and enhancement for the sustainability and resilience of the US rice industry using functional genomics toolsand stress tolerance. Proceedings. 21st International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics, Little Rock, Arkansas. September 9-11, 2024.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: One goal of the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center (DBNRRC) is to address the needs of the US rice industry. To achieve this, over the past 25 years DBNRRC scientists have made significant contributions toward improved disease resistance and grain quality. The Genetic Stocks Oryza (GSOR) collection was established in 2003 and has grown to about 33,000 accessions, including over 20K Katy putative mutants, mapping populations, diversity panels and new germplasm lines. Development of molecular markers associated with genes has facilitated rapid integration of these genes into breeding programs, accelerating improved cultivar development. The US rice germplasm collection of about 19,000 globally diverse cultivars, is being continually evaluated to search for new genes and new valuable traits, such as disease resistance, grain quality and nutrition, and stress tolerance. By unraveling the molecular pathways and genetic factors controlling desired traits, innovative strategies for breeding disease-resistant rice cultivars with improved yield potential were developed. For example, a marker for blast resistance gene, Pi-ta is being used routinely by US rice breeders. Cloning the Ptr gene in rice, an atypical broad spectrum blast resistance gene, enabled a better understanding of the molecular basis of plant innate immunity. Thus far, the Pi-ta and Ptr genes have been deployed effectively in over 20 US rice cultivars, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars saved on pesticide applications. Progress on broadening the genetic basis for achieving highly productive and sustainable ‘Green Super Rice’ cultivar development for the US rice industry will be presented.