Soil salinity and flooding in the coastal deltas of India and Bangladesh directly impact the lives of around 130 million people. Rice fields in these areas are inundated with tidal surges driven by cyclones early in the wet season, followed by partial or stagnant flooding due to heavy monsoon rains later in the season.
Although the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has already released rice varieties that are salinity tolerant, ideal rice varieties need multiple tolerances for better adaptability to the harsh conditions in coastal areas.
Double trouble
IRRI scientists are now developing rice varieties that combine tolerance to both salinity and submergence. Some finished products of rice lines that can withstand the ‘double trouble’ have demonstrated encouraging results.
“Combining Saltol [the gene that provides salinity tolerance) and SUB1 [the gene that allows rice to survive complete submergence for up to 17 days] in one genetic background showed no apparent negative impacts on agronomic and quality traits, and this will help develop more resilient varieties adapted to coastal zones,” said Glenn Gregorio, senior rice breeder and deputy head of IRRI’s Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology (PBGB) Division.
Other abiotic stresses
In addition, IRRI plant breeders are looking at other traits associated with the tolerance of other abiotic (non-living) stresses common in coastal areas. For example, modern rice varieties are sensitive to the water stagnation that can last for several months in these areas. However, reasonable genetic variations in the tolerance of stagnant flooding have been observed in some rice varieties, and plant breeders are now exploring the possibility of finding new genetic materials for this trait. Combining the tolerance of rice to salinity, submergence, and stagnant flooding, together with proper management strategies, could help increase and sustain rice production in these fragile areas.
Read the full story here.
Photo credit: IRRI
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