TOKYO: A team of Japanese scientists has discovered genes that enable rice plant to grow 'snorkels' to survive high water, providing hope for better rice production in lowland areas that are affected by flooding.
The genes, called 'snorkel' genes, help the plant to elongate rapidly in response to being submerged.
The findings by the team, primarily from the University of Nagoya, were reported in Thursday's issue of science magazine Nature.
In it, Professor Laurentius Voesenek at Utrecht University describes how the Japanese scientists discovered the 'snorkel' genes in flood-tolerant rice - which generally produces lower-yield rice plants - and introduced them to more sensitive high-yield rice. As water levels rise, accumulation of the plant hormone ethylene activates 'snorkel' genes, hastening stem growth. 'Snorkels' grow as hollow tubes from parts of the plant called internodes, preventing it from drowning.
When the floods arrive, the super rice plants can grow up to 25 cm per day, the BBC reported.
Professor Motoyuki Ashikari, who headed the project, said his team is hoping to use the gene on long-grain rice, widely used in South-east Asia, to help stabilise production in flood-prone areas. 'Scientifically, the gene that we found is rare but clear proof of a biological ability to adapt to a harsh environment,' he said.
He said the team has successfully tested the gene on a Japanese 'Japonica' rice, and now plans to create a flood-resistant long-grain rice in three to four years for use in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Cambodia.
Rice is a staple food for billions, and yields must be doubled to meet projected requirements by 2050.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
This is the new addition to the HYVs that we are learning. Why do you think this HYV is called the 'Snorkel rice'?
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