Regulatory Strategies for Alleviating Anaerobic and Submergence Stress in Rice

Rice production is increasingly challenged by flooding stress because of global warming and rising sea levels. As the world’s most important staple crop, rice is highly vulnerable to anaerobic and submergence conditions that occur during flooding, particularly at the germination and vegetative stages. Anaerobic environments hinder seedling establishment during germination, while prolonged submergence during the vegetative stage impairs growth, ultimately reducing yield and grain quality. These stresses, driven by extended inundation, trigger a cascade of detrimental physiological responses and now represent a major barrier to stable rice production and global food security. In this review, we examine the effects of flooding on rice growth at both the germination and vegetative stages. We further summarize recent advances in the identification of flooding-tolerant germplasm, quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, genome-wide association study (GWAS), transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, and other molecular studies. Subsequently, we highlight potential cultivation practices regulation strategies include that genetic, morphology, physiology, endogenous hormones aspects aimed at enhancing tolerance to anaerobic and submergence stress. Together, these approaches underscore the promise of integrating molecular insights with agronomic practices to mitigate flooding damage and support sustainable rice production.