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Review
. 2021 Jan;22(1):16-25.
doi: 10.2174/1389202921999201231205024.

Emerging Molecular Strategies for Improving Rice Drought Tolerance

Jitender Giri  1 , Swarup K Parida  1 , Saurabh Raghuvanshi  1 , Akhilesh K Tyagi  1
Affiliations
Review

Emerging Molecular Strategies for Improving Rice Drought Tolerance

Jitender Giri et al. Curr Genomics. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Rice occupies a pre-eminent position as a food crop in the world. Its production, how- ever, entails up to 3000 liters of water per kilogram of grain produced. Such high demand makes rice prone to drought easily. Sustainable rice cultivation with limited water resources requires the deployment of a suitable strategy for better water use efficiency and improved drought tolerance. Several drought-related genes have been evaluated in rice for their mode of action in conferring drought tolerance. Manipulation of components of abscisic acid signal transduction, stomatal density, deposition of cuticular wax, and protein modification pathways are emerging as priority targets. Gene reprogramming by microRNAs is also being explored to achieve drought tolerance. Genetically dissected Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) and their constituent genes are being deployed to develop drought-tolerant rice varieties. Progressive research and challenges include a better understanding of crucial components of drought response and search for new targets and the deployment of improved varieties in the field.

Keywords: Drought; microRNAs; molecular breeding; rice; transgenics; water-deficit.

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Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
Emerging molecular strategies for improving rice drought tolerance. Drought related genes, miRNAs, and QTLs have been identified. The genes regulating stomatal closer, cuticular wax deposition, and antioxidant pathways prevent water loss and cellular damage under drought. Transgenics with improved drought tolerance have been raised using such genes. miRNAs regulating drought response pathways and underlying genes provide an alternate strategy. Transgenics with improved drought tolerance should be tested in field conditions to assess the real protection of yield under drought. The classical breeding combined with new molecular tools would help produce new drought-tolerant varieties at a much faster pace.
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