Breeding Climate-ready Rice

Rice is an important staple food worldwide. Despite significant research work on various aspects of rice cultivation, the rapidly changing environment still demands more climate-ready rice varieties. Various climatic factors, including temperature and water availability, significantly impact rice cultivation in numerous regions of the world. The development of resistant varieties against these climatic factors is crucial to developing climate-ready rice. Alongside the development of resistant varieties, the tailored management practices for these climatic factors can be implemented to cope with site-specific stresses. For instance, the key strategies for water shortage include introducing drought-tolerant rice varieties, improving water management through advanced irrigation techniques and rainwater harvesting, and optimizing nutrient use to enhance yields. Cropping system modifications, such as adopting short-term varieties and diversified post-rice cropping options, alongside advanced establishment techniques, like dry direct seeding, further enhance resilience. Additionally, effective soil and field management practices, including land leveling and subsoil compaction, can mitigate water stress and improve crop performance in vulnerable regions.