Gene editing paves the way for heat-tolerant rice as warmer nights threaten yields in the US

USA – Rice breeders and researchers are turning to advanced techniques like gene editing to develop rice varieties that can withstand rising nighttime temperatures, a growing concern in major rice-producing regions, including the U.S.

A new study highlights the urgency to address this issue as nighttime warming trends jeopardize rice yield and quality, with potential losses of up to 90% in grain yield due to heat stress.

In the United States, Arkansas leads rice production, accounting for half the nation’s output, with approximately 1.4 million acres planted annually, according to the USDA Economic Research Service. However, studies show that nights are warming more rapidly than days, intensifying the challenge for rice growers.

“Rice plants are particularly sensitive to high nighttime temperatures during their flowering and grain-filling stages,” said Dr. Vibha Srivastava, professor of plant biotechnology at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

“This sensitivity results in reduced yields and grain chalkiness, which compromises milling quality, cooking performance, and taste.”

Srivastava and her colleagues are exploring gene editing as a promising avenue for enhancing nighttime heat tolerance in rice. Unlike genetic modification, gene editing does not involve introducing foreign DNA but instead makes precise alterations to the plant’s genome.

Their review, published in Current Opinion in Plant Biology, is the first comprehensive analysis of scientific literature on high nighttime temperature tolerance in rice. Co-authored by Christian De Guzman and Samuel B. Fernandes from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the study underscores the potential of gene editing to improve rice varieties by addressing traits like yield, grain chalkiness, and heat resilience.

The Nagina 22 dilemma

One variety showing promise is Nagina 22, an Indian rice known for its high nighttime heat tolerance. However, Nagina 22 has limitations, including small grain size, high chalkiness, and susceptibility to lodging, making it unsuitable for direct cultivation in Arkansas.

Breeders have crossed Nagina 22 with modern cultivars to transfer its heat tolerance, but further work is needed to refine its traits.

“Cloning genes responsible for desirable traits in Nagina 22, like those associated with chalkiness, could open doors to targeted improvements through gene editing,” Srivastava noted.

Advanced breeding lines from the Arkansas Rice Breeding Program may also serve as candidates for this technology if they show resilience under heat stress.

The challenges posed by rising nighttime temperatures are underscored by regional and national climate studies.

Research led by Arkansas State University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service documented a 1°F (0.53°C) increase in Arkansas’s nighttime temperatures during the rice-growing season between 1940 and 2018. The Fifth National Climate Assessment corroborates this trend, reporting that nighttime temperatures in the U.S. are warming faster than daytime temperatures.

“Our ultimate goal is to deliver rice that not only thrives in warmer nights but also meets quality standards for taste and palatability,” Srivastava emphasized.

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