Hyperactive gene in rice can help crop sustain flooding: study

Farmers have long battled with ways to preserve grains of rice, but like other crops, the rice plant dies after being underwater for more than a few days due to lack of sunlight and air.

Now an international team of researchers from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines and the University of California have identified a gene in the grain that enables rice to survive complete submergence.

The discovery could provide relief to 70 million of the world's poorest people, and may reduce crop losses from weeds in areas of the U.S., the scientists claim.

Going against the grain
The team identified a cluster of genes that are linked to biological processes related to the crop's vulnerability to flooding.

Then, using genetic mapping techniques, the researchers focused their attention on one of the genes, called Sub1A.

After tailoring the Sub1A gene to extreme weather conditions usually found in India, the scientists say the gene can become hyperactive, making it able to not only sustain flooding, but also produce high yields.

Next, the team will be studying how other genes regulated by Sub1A can further improve tolerance for flooding and other extreme weather conditions.

The researchers hope that the gene will also help suppress weeds, since the rice will have resistance to submergence, while the weeds will be susceptible to it.

The study was published in the August 10 edition of the journal, Nature.

Photography: Cartographers on the Net

Source: Discovery Channel Reports, August 11 edition