Symbiogenics: Strategies to mitigate climate change impacts on rice

Rice is a source of nearly half of the daily calorie needs for people on a global scale, scientists can make rice adapt to climate change and catastrophic consequences , by transplanting the spores of fungi (living symbiosis on plants that are resistant to harsh environments), onto rice and seeds or crops for other seeds, according to researchers. at the US Geological Survey Center (USGS).

When natural disasters occur, it is easy to lead to food shortages; therefore, researchers at the US Geological Survey Center (USGS) and colleagues conducted fungal spore transplantation (naturally occurring in coastal native plants that are good at salinity and tolerance). heat) on two commercial rice varieties.

The experiment was " completely successful ," according to Dr. Rusty Rodriguez, author and researcher working at the US Geological Survey Center (USGS), rice plants thrive, significantly increasing tolerance. salinity, cold tolerance and drought, although rice varieties tested in natural conditions are often poorly adapted to harsh environmental conditions. Creating rice that has a heat resistance to seeding in drought conditions is the next topic of the team of scientists since rice production decreased by 10% for every 1 ^o C in excess. Normal temperature threshold during rice growing season.

" This is an exciting breakthrough ," Rodriguez said. " The ability to introduce fungi to settle in rice increases the resilience to climate change, as well as increasing grain yield and root of rice and plant species that are not related to the genes of Earlier native plants that this fungus lived in symbiosis, this suggests that the fungus may be useful in helping plants adapt to drought, salinity and temperature rise, which is projected. I guess it will get worse in the coming years because of global warming . "

Symbiotic relationship between living endophytes on rice plants,
has increased salinity tolerance of rice.

In fact, Rodriguez said, using this tiny fungus - also known as endophytes, is one of the only strategies that really mitigates the effects of climate change on crops in agricultural ecosystems and out of the natural environment. " We have characterized the scope of the study as" symbiogenics "or gene symbiosis, or the transformation of genetic information in cells. However, the DNA of the rice itself is still not change "Rodriguez added. " Instead, we are recreating what is naturally occurring, with rice production projected to decline by 15% in developing countries by 2050, this strategy is very feasible ."

How fungi endophytes work: All plants have microbial fungi or bacteria that live in symbiosis, they do not cause disease in plants. The type of endophytes that Rodriguez and his colleagues are experimenting with are powerful, meaning that plants and fungi have a close relationship, maximizing the benefits for both partners through increased availability. adaptability to climate change of plants, and provide essential nutrients for mushrooms.

The scientist took the fungus endophytes from dunegrass grass, a species of grass often exposed to seawater, so it has salt tolerance, and settles endophytes in rice and seeds with fungal spores, seeds germinate. and endophytes spawn into rice tissue. The results were impressive, the endophytes reduced rice water consumption by half, increasing the growth of rice and creating more than half of the grain and heavier weights .

" Normally, people think that dunegrass grass is a good salt-tolerant plant, because genetic adaptation occurs over a long period of time (according to Dac-Uyen Doctrine), but we found it when we introduced endophytes. out of dunegrass grass, this plant is no longer salty , "Rodriguez said. " This means that in natural habitats plants may not have genetic elements that adapt themselves to harsh climatic conditions, but thanks to establishing beneficial collaboration with endophytes. makes plants more saline resistant . "

Mushroom endophytes

During the past 40 years under the influence of climate change, the minimum air temperature in rice crops has increased significantly in China and the Philippines, leading to a significant reduction in yield of rice. In these countries, it is predicted that rice production will continue to decline in the future. " Natural disasters and population growth have contributed to a shortage of food and a rise in rice prices, worsening global malnutrition and hunger . "

The author stressed that the results of the study could compensate for some of the effects of global climate change by tight links such as: early generation of new rice varieties along with agricultural production methods. suitable in harsh environmental conditions, to minimize the impact of global climate change on rice production annually.

The results of the study were published in PLoS One .