New rice varieties improve productivity for Asia

Scientists have discovered a gene in India's Kasalath wild rice variety that has the potential to increase rice production in poorly nutrient gravel soils.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has identified the gene PSTOL1 , capable of absorbing phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium and then transplanted into the cultivated rice varieties.

According to IRRI's initial assessment, the yield of the new rice variety transplanted with PSTOL1 increased by more than 60% compared to the rice variety currently grown on poor phosphorus fields. It is worth mentioning that most rice fields in Asia contain very low levels of phosphorus.

In particular, the gene PSTOL1 is extracted from Kasalath rice variety - which is grown on poor nutrient fields in eastern India.

New rice varieties transplanting PSTOL1 gene increase crop yield by 60%

About 10 years ago, scientists suspected that the Kalasath rice variety contained one or more genes that could help plant growth thrive under conditions of low phosphorus soil.

Researcher Sigrid Heuer at the IRRI identified the PSTOL1 gene in Kasalath rice variety to be able to promote the root development of the plant so that plants can easily absorb the nutrients needed to grow. In phosphorus-poor rice fields, the new rice variety transplanted PSTOL1 gene is effective from the early stages of root development.

As the root area expands, it increases the contact between rice and cultivated soil, and helps plants absorb more phosphorus.

Although initially, researchers focused on increasing the ability of rice to absorb nutrients. But they found that the strong growth of the roots also helped the rice to absorb more nitrogen and potassium - essential minerals for plant growth.

Currently, scientists have applied gene implantation techniques to introduce PSTOL1 gene into rice varieties belonging to 2 major rice subspecies, indica and japonica. The results showed that rice production increased by 60% compared to rice varieties without transplanted PSTOL1.

About half of the world's rice growing land suffers from a deficiency of phosphorus minerals. That does not mean that phosphorus does not appear in the soil but is crystallized in the form that the weak root cannot absorb. Therefore, farmers often have to use fertilizers containing phosphorus compounds and other essential nutrients to help plants grow.

In the future, scientists hope to be able to produce "super-tolerant" varieties of rice that can be grown in all harsh conditions like drought, salinity and flooding.

Six years ago, scientists discovered the Sub1A gene in a wild rice variety, and it demonstrated the ability to help rice plants survive and thrive in a completely inundated state for at least 2 weeks.

The IRRI team believes that India's Kalasath rice variety has the necessary qualities to help plants cope with all harsh conditions.

Currently, IRRI is collaborating with many scientists to introduce genes that can absorb phosphorus into important food crops such as sorghum.