U of A Researchers Lead Consortium Studying Genetics of Heat-Tolerant Rice

Photo by Russell Cothren

Research associate Sara Yingling (left) and graduate student Yheni Dwiningsih (right) gather rice to study its genetics.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – U of A researchers are working to identify the natural genetic variation in rice that allows the plant to produce high-quality grain in an environment of rising temperatures.

The U of A leads a consortium of four universities that recently received $4.65 million from the National Science Foundation to support their work. The team is studying the genetics of more than 400 rice varieties collected from around the world.

“Environmental stresses such as high temperatures that occur seasonally or increase annually limit cereal crop production, the stability of which is important for global food production,” said Andy Pereira, professor of crop, soil and environmental science in the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. “The major emerging environmental stress to U.S. rice production is the increase in night temperatures, which reduces grain yield and quality and decreases market value.”

To address this issue, the team of researchers, led by Pereira, are studying the characteristics and genetics of the different rice varieties. Working with colleagues at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Oklahoma State University and Louisiana State University, the researchers will compare the yield and quality of two groups of rice, one grown grown under heat stress and the other under ambient temperature.

By comparing the two groups of plants, the researchers will be able to identify varieties of rice that produce high quality grains in spite of increased temperatures. This information will be used to map the genomes of these varieties in order to identify the gene sequences and expressions that give the plants this heat tolerance advantage. The researchers will also use gene-editing techniques to validate their findings. With this information, they can make specific recommendations to plant breeders and farmers to help them.

About the Division of Agriculture: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.improve the rice crop.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.